Western USA Collegiate Rugby Championships in Dallas

by Dave Wheelock, rugby coach

SOCORRO, N.M., April 8, 2003 -- The only victories recorded by the New Mexico Tech Rugby Club over the weekend at the Western USA Rugby Union's Division II championships in Dallas were moral ones, as the team fell behind in all three of its matches before beginning futile comebacks. The team was pummeled by 2002 Final Four powerhouse Sam Houston State (45-0) and then Northeastern (Oklahoma) State University (47-10) on Saturday before achieving a measure of respectability in a 12-5 Sunday morning loss to Pittsburg State (Kansas) in a match that could have gone either way.

From the kickoff of their first match with Sam Houston State (Huntsville, TX) the Pygmies seemed to be feeling the effects of an early rising after the previous day's long bus trip, and conceded the first of seven tries after only six minutes of play. It was one-way traffic from that point, as each time the New Mexicans got their hands on the ball, they seemed destined to turn it over through poor handling or questionable options. At the end of the first half, SHS had already amassed 40 points.

Whether through stubborn pride by the Pygmies or a loss of concentration by their opponents, the second half saw only one score, a lone try to the Sam Houston winger soon after the kickoff. Final: Sam Houston State 45, NMT 0.

Photo: Tech flanker Paul Quintana prepares to snatch a loose ball after a teammate's tackle at the Western USA collegiate playoffs in Dallas over the weekend.

The afternoon game against a fresh Northeastern State University (Tahlequah, OK) team began like a recurrent nightmare for the lads from Tech, only worse. Again, the Pygmies gave up a try after six minutes, and by the half Northeastern had built a 47-0 lead. Finally, 10 minutes into the second half, Tech seemed to emerge from their somnambulism. The ball was worked out wide to outside center Patrick Simons, who after 110 minutes of play on the day got his first whiff of open space. That's all it took as Simons characteristically ran over one defender before outpacing the rest of the NOS defenders the remaining 50 yards to score. His conversion kick was true, and Tech was finally on the board, albeit trailing 47-7.

This simple play ignited Simons's fellow Pygmies, and while not exactly blowing Northeastern's doors off, they did carry the remainder of the half, tallying another three points on a Simons penalty kick to finish in the red, 47-10.

Photo: NMT hooker Pablo Garibay drags down a Pittsburg State (KS) player as David Yazzie rushes to his aid. Pittsburg State won this Western USA collegiate rugby tournament game, 12-5, in Dallas.

Sunday morning the Pygmies found themselves squared off with Pittsburg State (Kansas), who had won one and lost one the day before. This was a much more competitive game, but characteristically for the weekend, Tech felt compelled to give away two first half tries to trail 12-0 at the half. In a second half played with passion by both teams, Tech seemed to have the upper hand. After four minutes freshman lock Chris Tomingas recorded his first-ever try, sneaking into the corner after a nice passage of play by the backs. Simons could not convert his kick taken from a steep angle, and although Tech made several more threatening breaks throughout the half, each time Pittsburg State's defense rose to the occasion, and they were rewarded with a hard-fought 12-5 victory.

While falling short at a higher level of play, Tech can assuage their feelings somewhat with the knowledge their team comes from by far the smallest "division two" college represented in Dallas. The combined enrollments of their opponents averaged just under 10,000 students, while Tech weighs in at about 1,700. Another basis for optimism in the Pygmy camp is their youth: only two seniors are on the squad, and only one, Brook Jilek, played in Dallas.

After their exhausting sojourn to Dallas, Tech's rugby men will no doubt be relieved to play out their spring season in Socorro, hosting New Mexico Highlands University Saturday, April 12, in the first of three consecutive weekends at home. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.