Tigers Rugby Football Club finished their 2011 Division I Rugby Colorado league season at 3 wins and 3losses (12-11-3 overall) and ranked #4 in the state. The boys high school side from Broomfield and Arvada achieved a better seed in the State Championship Tournament than any previous year with a 25-12 victory over South West Area Rugby Men (SWARM) at Mossbrucker Park (Littleton) on Wednesday, April 20, 2011. SWARM is made up of players from Columbine, Mullen and Chatfield High Schools.
Nick Allen, Pomona’s bruising All Conference linebacker, opened the scoring from the Flyhalf position. Warren Wood, another All Conference football player (at center) added the conversion at the 5 minute mark. Warren moved to scrumhalf from the Inside Center position for the Tigers Rugby HS side in their final league match. Patrick O’Connor, from Holy Family High School,added a strong effort in the corner shortly after, but the conversion sailed in front of the posts. SWARM then countered with strong back line play to bring the score to 12-5. Warren Wood made a penalty kick (field goal for 3 points) to give the Tigers a 15-5 halftime lead.
Eight of the 15 starters for Tigers Rugby on this day hailed from Holy Family High School, where the club began after winning the 2002 State Football Championship. The front row (all from Holy Family High School) provided the Tigers a great effort, including Tight Head Danny Fiorino (sustituting for injured captain Jake Gossman) and Loose Head Prop, Rob Nees. Together, they gave Jeff Madigan a stable platform to work wonders as the Tigers Rugby Hooker. Jeff stole a few critical hooks in the scrums “against the head” to give momentum back to the Tigers.
Tigers take the 4th place seed and will play the 5th place Aurora Saracens on Saturday, April 30th at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in the Rugby Colorado State Championship Tournament’s Quarterfinal round. Time will be determined soon and should posted here.
Tigers Rugby’s 4/20/11 Roster
1. Rob Nees (Holy Family HS)
2. Jeff Madigan (Holy Family HS)
3. Danny Fiorino (Holy Family HS)
4. Walker Prieb (Holy Family HS)
5. Jonathan Thomas (Arvada West HS)
6. Patrick O’Connor (Holy Family HS)
7. Andrew Hutchinson (Standley Lake HS)
8. Peter Loving (Ralston Valley HS)
9. Warren Wood (Pomona HS)
10. Nick Allen (Pomona HS)
11. AJ Shannon (Pomona HS)
12. Jake Boselli (Holy Family HS)
13. Jimmy Higdon (Pomona HS)
14. Matt Wright (Holy Family HS)
15. Tyler Hsin (Holy Family HS)
Reserve
16. Devin Weeks (Broomfield HS)
Current Record: 12-11-3 Overall; 3-3 in Division I play; A:6-9-2; B:6-2-1
The 2011 Tigers Rugby HS side schedule and results:
2/19 @ East Invitational scrimmage (B15-0, A0-19, B27-0)
2/26 Cherry Creek scrimmage (A12-5, B5-0, B5-7)
3/2 Regis (A31-24, B0-10)
3/5 Colorado Springs (A0-0, A5-15)
3/5 Chaparral (A5-10, B25-5)
3/9 @ Boulder (A0-7, A5-0, A24-0)
3/12 Tigers Host Spring Fling Tournament (A17-35 East, A17-17 Cherry Creek)
3/16 @ Aurora (A17-19, B7-0)
3/23 @ East (A7-45, B5-5)
3/26 @ Ft. Collins (A7-29, B12-5)
4/6 Colorado Springs (A7-83)
4/13 Chaparral (A94-7)
4/20 @ SWARM (A25-12)
4/23 (SATURDAY from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm)- “The 4th Broomfield Rugby Festival” – Practice, Tigers Rugby Men’s Match (vs. Denver Rush RFC) & HS side Touch Footie Match at Broomfield County Commons Park
4/25 (MONDAY – Warm ups at 4:00 pm) F/S #5 (Northwest Open Space)- hosted by Tigers Rugby
4/26 (TUESDAY at 3:15 pm) – PRACTICE (Aspen Creek Park)
4/28 (THURSDAY at 3:15 pm) – PRACTICE (Aspen Creek Park)
4/30 (SATURDAY at TBD) – State Quarterfinal match (@ Dicks Sporting Goods Park)
5/03 (TUESDAY at 3:15 pm) – PRACTICE (Aspen Creek Park)
5/05 (THURSDAY at 3:15 pm) – PRACTICE (Aspen Creek Park)
5/07 (SATURDAY at TBD) – State Semifinal Match (@ Dicks Sporting Goods Park)
5/10 (TUESDAY at 3:15 pm) – PRACTICE (Aspen Creek Park)
5/11 (WEDNESDAY at TBD) State ChampionshipMatches (@ Infinity Park)
5/21 (SATURDAY) All State Matches at Heritage HS
7/16 (SATURDAY) Denver 7s Tournament (@ Dicks Sporting Goods Park)
7/30- 8/1 (SATURDAY & SUNDAY) Rocky Mountain State Games at Cheyenne Mountain HS
