Tech Rugby Club Romps over Brujos

by Dave Wheelock, rugby coach

The Pygmy ruggers of New Mexico Tech exacted a measure of revenge Saturday with a 46-24 romp over the Brujos Rugby Club. Last spring season, it was the Brujos over the Pygmies twice, by 26-24 and 27-7 scores. All seven of Tech’s tries were touched down by back line players, a fleet group of seven the Albuquerque club could not hope to contain.

Up front in the forwards it was a different story, as the larger Albuquerqueans attempted to use what Tech captain Mark Kelly refers to as “old man strength” to keep the ball away from the faster Pygmies. In this effort they were only partially successful, as indicated by the score line.

Junior co-captain Pat Simons collected four five-point tries, kicked four two-point conversions, and added a penalty kick to account for 31 points. Senior wing Mike Bauer tallied two tries and junior flyhalf Rob Harrison accounted for the seventh five-pointer. Bauer was awarded Man of the Match honors by senior captain Mark Kelly for his performance on attack and in defense.

For the Brujos, NMT graduate student Ron Trueblood, playing as an unattached Rio Grande Rugby Union member, scored three rumbling tries to account for most of the visitors’ scoring.

Tech led 26-10 at the half on the strength of its outside attack. Bauer burned off the first of four long-range Pygmy tries in the half, an effort that was followed in regular intervals by Harrison, Simons, and then Simons again. Each tally featured timely support passing by teammates, as Tech sped the ball down the field.

Meanwhile two Brujo scores came as short-range stabs in the middle of the field, as the burly Trueblood proved too much for his would-be tacklers.

Tech tacked on three additional tries in the second half, while the Brujos managed two. The second was a textbook rolling maul, with the forwards repeatedly handing the ball off to one another before big prop Jeff Roberts fell over the line.

Right at full time Pat Simons lined up and landed a 25-yard penalty kick for the final 46-24 difference. Other standouts for New Mexico Tech were freshmen Phillip Turner, Tory Tadano, Art Emus, and Taylor Dotson.

The two teams will meet again on November 1 in Albuquerque.

The win moves Tech’s record to three wins against two losses. Next Saturday, September 20, the Pygmies end their home stand by entertaining the New Mexico State University Chiles and the Cannon Air Force Base Nomads. Play gets under way with an 11 a.m. kickoff versus NMSU.

-NMT-