Pygmies in El Paso

by Dave Wheelock, Rugby Director

SOCORRO, N.M., October 4, 2006 – In El Paso last Saturday, Sept. 30, the New Mexico Tech Rugby Club dominated ball possession in the set scrums, convincingly won the majority of the inbounds throws (lineouts), and had a slight advantage in retaining possession after tackles (rucks and mauls). They also lost to the El Paso Scorpions, 44-0.

A mysterious and disastrous 13-minute defensive collapse in the first half obliterated Tech's chances of claiming their second-ever win over the Scorpions, and left onlookers scratching their heads. The hosts ran in a whopping six tries between the 20th and 33rd minutes, most on long runs after breaking through a porous Pygmy defense. During this period the Scorpions literally scored as quickly as Tech could regroup and kick off.

Play opened promisingly for Tech, who enjoyed almost total ball possession in the first minutes but could not punch an exploitable hole in El Paso's defense. In an ominous prelude to what was to come, lax defense allowed Scorpion wing Vince Williams to score almost untouched as he scampered along the touchline.

Tech's eight forwards, anchored by props Brent Meins and Britt Catron and hooker John Rundberg, put on a massive display in the scrums, shunting the Scorpions backward or wheeling them around almost at will. Tech's backline, meanwhile, could not find openings in El Paso's defense, leading to repeated counterattacks by the opportunistic Scorpions. A similar pattern emerged in the lineouts, where NMT lock forward Steve Graves soared to take a plethora of Rundberg's throws, with no impact on the scoreboard.

El Paso led 39-0 at the conclusion of the 40-minute first half, or nearly a point per minute. While Tech stiffened their defense in the sun-baked second spell, allowing just one try after 28 minutes, neither could they mount a meaningful attack.

NMT's fall record dropped to one win against five losses. First-year player Hunter Riek of Angel Fire, NM was named Man of the Match by his teammates for his active play at flank forward. The Pygmies travel to Flagstaff, Arizona this weekend for the 26th annual Northern Arizona Ten-Man (and -Woman) Tournament. New Mexico Tech are the two-time defending champions of the small college division.

-NMT-