On April 16th, Tigers Rugby Football Club captured at least a share of Colorado Youth Rugby North Division Championship with a 30-5 win over Fort Collins Youth Rugby. On April 19th, in a “Friendly” (non-league) match against Chaparral, Tigers dropped a 43-22 decision in the A-side game and then beat Chaparral’s B-side 30-0.
Tigers traveled to Fort Collins on Wednesday through a spring snowstorm. Tigers came out flat, but had the tackling skills to pull themselves out of their own end. In the loose play, supported by forwards and a strong team of playmakers, Charles Martinez found the edge to give the Tigers a led after the place kick by Quincy Anderson sailed wide. Andy Maul blocked a Ft. Collins grub kick and Joe Mack scooped up the loose ball, carried it, and passed to Pomona HS’s Joshua Carvalho, the Tiger’s hooker, who touched it down in-goal for his first varsity try. The converting drop-kick attempt by Martinez was, “No good”. Andy Maul, made the most of the half’s last play to put his two-sport All State speed on display for a 60 meter jaunt to put the Tigers up fifteen points to zero, after the missed kick by Anderson.
Joe Mack quick tapped a penalty and vaulted to the goal line. Anderson missed the kick, but drove later to the goal line, was tackled, but not wrapped up, rolled onto his feet to score to make it 27-0. The Martinez kick was no good. The second half saw a number of substitutions and continued success for the Tigers Ruby Club’s future player development. Fort Collins got on the scoreboard with their only try of the day after the Tigers killed the ball in a ruck . Ft Collins missed their conversion kick. Charles Martinez got the grren light on a 22 meter drop goal attempt (his third on the day) and made good to cap the scoping at 30-5.
The forwards banged their rucks and continued to control the ball with phased play. Creative and inspired fly half play by the Tigers Man of the Match, Andy Maul was enough to give the Tigers Rugby Football Club at least a share of their second Colorado Youth Rugby North Division title.
On Saturday, Tigers hosted the Chaparral HS rugby team for a morning scrimmage. Chaparral (6-0 in league play) assembled a quickest and most enduring A-side on this day, prevailing 43-22. Chaparral got around the corner on the Tigers wing early and often, though the Tigers scored enough to make this one interesting and encouraging, despite the loss. Tigers Rugby, led by Captain Justin Sadler, countered the South Division leaders with back row takes and fluent finishes by Quincy Anderson. Quincy, who would put up two more tries in this match is on a record setting pace to surpass his brother, Koehler Anderson, for the third place spot on the Tigers Rugby’s all time scoring list. Quincy and Rob Nees shared the Man of the Match honors for raising their games to the next level. Anderson also quick tapped a penalty and handed it to Markus Harvey, who holds the current single season try scoring record (15 tries in 2007) that was challenged by Anderson today. Anthony Gaglia, Jacob Gossman, Patrick O’Connor, and Ryan Torrez joined the usual suspects with varsity experience.
Rugby requires 15 players on the field at a time, but variations of the game including Sevens (7 a side) and Tens (10 a side) are often observed. In the second match of the day, played on the versatile Championship Field at BroomfieldCountyCommonsPark, ten players at a time competed on the smaller, American gridiron configuration. American football field are 100 by 58 yards, while rugby pitches are 100 by 69 meters.
Coaches got an eyeful of underclassmen, and welcomed the practice in the execution of their Tigers Rugby play book with a 25-0 second match victory. Lewis Rosenberg tapped a penalty and passed to Marcus “Chief” Lucero at contact, who bulled his way in from five meters out for a 5-0 score after Rosenberg missed the conversion, kicking into a gusty wind. The ensuing kickoff was fielded by Ryan Torrez of Pomona HS, who had four runs over fifty meters today. Torrez was driven out of bounds to force the Chaparral line-out. Rob Nees, an A-side Man of the Match, broke up the throw in and tapped the ball into the five meter channel where winger Garrett Miller picked up the first of his three tries on the day. The kick was not converted, leaving the score at 10-0. Miller added another off excellent back line movement. Quincy Anderson rejoined the sides in the second half to collect his 4th try on the day, before Garrett Miller completed his “hat trick”.
Tigers Rugby Football Club has found a healthy balance with only 7 of 30 players graduating seniors. In the 2 weeks before the State Championship Tournament begins, on May 3 rd, the Tigers will go back to basics, while the Freshmen and Sophomores get their last few runs. On Monday, April 21 st, the 3-1-2 Cherry Creek & Tigers consortium of freshmen and sophomores will travel to Boulder for U-16 Festival # 4 at PleasantViewPark. Practices will be held on Monday and Wednesday. On Saturday April 26 th, Tigers Rugby will host the 2 nd Annual Broomfield Rugby Festival at Championship Field in BroomfieldCountyCommonsPark. Tigers have invited the Denver East and Chaparral players U-16 players and those who would not likely play in the closer contested State Championship Tournament games. Matches begin at 1:00 PM.
Tigers Rugby‘s last league match is against SWARM, represented by Columbine, Mullen and Chatfield HS players. SWARM’s A & B sides (the 2006 Colorado Youth Rugby State Champions) will host the Tigers on Monday, May 28 th at MossbruckerPark in Littleton. Kickoff is at 5:00 PM.
For more information about youth rugby in Colorado, call (303) 506-8110
