Tech Ruggers Repeat as Santa Fe Champions

By Dave Wheelock, NMT Rugby Director

The New Mexico Tech Rugby Club successfully defended their 2004 collegiate championship Sunday in the 33rd annual Santa Fe Tens tournament. The Pygmies “white” team outlasted New Mexico State University’s Chiles 12-7 in a thrilling late afternoon collegiate final to complete a perfect day’s record of 3 wins and no losses. The Tech “red” side, composed primarily of rookie players, managed one win versus two losses.

Scrumhalf / flyhalf Seth Daly was named to the All-tournament team, along with representatives from the women’s, men’s “B”, and men’s “A” divisions. Paul Quintana, who along with Daly filled a key “swing man” role between Tech’s two sides, received recognition from his teammates as their Man of the Competition.

Sage Latorra, Justin Monroe, and Josh Hanson formed a veteran backbone for Tech’s beginner-dominated red team. In a 9:00 am match, Latorra scored Tech Rugby’s first try of the fall campaign in an eventual 17-5 loss to the Chiles of New Mexico State University. The Reds applied stingy defense against a “B” side from the University of New Mexico at midday to record a heartening 7-5 win on the strength of Monroe’s intercept try, with Quintana making good on the conversion kick. The Reds’ day closed abruptly, however, with a 29-5 defeat at the hands of a Santa Fe Rugby Club second side recruited to fill out the collegiate bracket.

Tied 7-all at halftime of their morning match, Tech’s championship white team pulled away from the University of New Mexico in the second half for a 21-12 victory. Mike Bauer, Paul Quintana, and Tory Tadano each bagged touchdowns, and co-captain Pat Simons kicked all three conversions successfully. The Whites then exacted revenge for their little brothers’ earlier defeat by beating New Mexico State 22-5. Tech’s two captains, Pat Garcia, and Pat Simons, each scored two tries in this convincing win.

Tech’s white team received a bye into the collegiate division championship by virtue of points differential, and New Mexico State climbed in with a win over UNM.
The Chiles went ahead 7-0 on a long first half run by Luke Clemons, answered a few minutes later with a diving try in the corner by Quintana. Simons narrowly missed the conversion kick from an extreme angle, and NMT trailed at the half, 7-5.

Play escalated in the second half as each team uncorked dangerous downfield breaks. Tory Tadano and Matt Majors both made try-saving tackles to keep Tech in the game. From a scrum 30 yards outside the NMSU try line, Quintana reversed field, took a pass from Seth Daly, and linked with Simons, whose pass found Tory Tadano on the outside. Tadano touched down, Simons converted, and Tech held on for a crowd-pleasing 12-7 championship victory.

Tech will return Santa Fe’s hospitality on Saturday, Sept. 10, when the Santos come to town for a 1:00 pm kickoff at the NMT athletic ground. The Pygmies look to improve on a 59-19 loss in Santa Fe last April 23.

- NMT -