Tigers Rugby Football Club met traditional cross-town rivals, Northside Vikings on a snowy Championship Field in Broomfield County Commons Park on Wednesday February 24, 2010. Northside, with a powerful back row, and smart playmakers, picked up the opening kickoff and ran the ball out the end line. Taking the advantage of a number of dropped balls in the icy conditions, the Tigers regrouped. Scrums became a series of 8-man and scrumhalf takes. Off loading by first Daniel Sargeant, and then Patrick O’Connor set up multiple phases of play. Pressure and continuity was on display as over 30 Tigers Rugby players saw action. After 4 days of competition, the Tigers Rugby club has a amassed a 3-1-1 record.
Albert Whitemore opened the scoring after kicking and persistent Tigers rucking pinned the Vikings deep, and prompted a penalty. Whitemore tapped and scored a try, then converted the attempt (1 for 4), to make the score 7-0 after 10 minutes of play. Matt Mclean returned to Tigers Rugby with his Zulu try (first ever) on a decisive 20 meter dash straight up the pitch, and the score was 12-0. All State Linebacker, Daijon Tyler finished a long run up the sideline to put the Tigers Rugby A-side up by a score of 17-0. Warren Wood banged a try through the middle of the Vikings backline before Daijon Tyler made his first conversion of the year (1 for 2). The Northside back row fought hard for a try late in the second half to make the final score 24-5. Daijon Tyler ran wild against the Viking B side for 2 more tries to best Northside 10-0 in the nightcap.
The luxury of a multitude of accomplished athletes learning the urgency of quick backline assemblies, and persistent forward play added to the continuity, pressure, forward movement and speed of execution. What a difference a solid Monday practice made. Thanks to Coach Nick Samaras for an aggressive and disciplined game plan. A battle with a powerful Vikings pack proved to be an endurance test won by the deep stable of fast Tigers Rugby big men.
A side
Albert Whitemore Try 5, Albert Whitemore Conversion good 2; Matt McLean Try 5, Albert Whitemore Missed conversion; Daijon Tyler Try 5, Albert Whitmore Conversion missed; Warren Wood Try 5, Daijon Tyler Conversion good 2; Northside Try 5, Conversion missed. FINAL A Side score: 24-5
B Side
Daijon Tyler 5, Albert Whitmore Conversion missed; Daijon Tyler 5. Daijon Tyler Conversion missed. FINAL B Side score: 10-0
