Tech Ruggers Oversome Penalty Troubles, Brujos

by Dave Wheelock, Rugby coach

April 2, 2002 -- Depleted but not deterred by Easter weekend absences, New Mexico Tech's rugby men managed to fend off Albuquerque's Brujos 29-19 in Socorro on Saturday, March 30. After the visitors had forced a new start at 19-19 well into the second 40 minutes, Tech winger Miguel Provencio crashed over the tryline to put Tech in front for good at 24 points to 19, earning himself Man of the Match honors in the process. Provencio's heroics seemed to take the steam out of the Brujos, and when Tech prop forward Jason Lennane touched down a few minutes later on a penalty run, the deal was well and truly done.

The Pygmies were playing without try-scoring specialist Mike Bauer and back row stalwarts Mark Kelly and Brook Jilek, who took advantage of the three-day Easter school break to make home visits. Such is the rugby ethic, however, that when the Brujos came to town flush with players, they graciously loaned the home side two men.

On a shirtsleeve afternoon the home side were immediately put in the hotseat as the Brujos used their immense forwards to ram their way deep into Tech territory. This was to be largely the order of the day, but Tech's midfield backs, Katsuya Sugimoto, captain Jeremiah Wright, and freshman Patrick Simons proved up to the challenge with their machinelike tackling.

After repelling the initial threat, Tech finally got possession and the Brujos were guilty of an offsides infraction. Running quickly from the penalty, freshman scrumhalf Paul Quintana initiated a series of passes which lock forward David Yazzie finished with a dash over the line. Simons's conversion kick was good and Tech had a 7-0 lead after seven minutes.

If Tech's playing intensity was good on the day, it was also tinged with carelessness in the rucks (competition for the ball after a tackle), and the Brujos took full advantage, scoring three of their four tries from penalty situations. The first was scored by Scottish center and captain Steve Leishman at 21 minutes, which was converted to bring the teams even at seven apiece.

At 34 minutes Tech's veteran scrum half Josh Ulbricht, playing #8 to make room for the young Quintana, took a pass from Jeremiah Wright for an unconverted try, 12-7. Two minutes later Wright was rewarded for his generosity, scoring a try of his own which was converted by Lennane, and Tech took a 19-7 lead into halftime.

Within 15 minutes of the second half, it was a new ball game. First Jeff Roberts and then Gabe Wade carried it home for the visitors, and after Wade's try was converted, the scores stood even at 19. The drama continued for another ten minutes, and then came Provencio's heroics at 31 minutes, followed quickly by Lennane's insurance try, to make the final tally 29-19.

New Mexico Tech will host Eastern New Mexico University's Greyhounds this Saturday, April 6, in a 1:00 p.m. match at the NMT Athletic Ground. The Greyhounds defeated Tech in Portales last October in the fall season's final match, 22-12.