Tech Pygmies Defeat Brujos

SOCORRO, N.M., Sept. 10, 2007 -- The New Mexico Tech Rugby Club turned back a second-half challenge from the Brujos Rugby Club in Albuquerque Saturday [Sept. 8.2007] to win, 29-24. It was the first fifteen-man outing of the fall season for the Pygmies, who finished second at the Santa Fe ten-man tournament the week before. Tech injected several new players into the fray after putting four tries on the board to lead 22-0 at the half, and added one more in the second spell in response to the home team’s own four-touchdown surge.

After kicking off to start the sun-drenched match at St. Pius Field, New Mexico Tech got down to business by quickly stealing the ball and marching within 20 meters of their opponents’ tryline, where outside center Tory Tadano’s long pass found Matt Nelson streaking up the left flank. Nelson turned the corner on the defense to put down for five points. Tech earned the lion’s share of ball possession in the opening minutes, and after fifteen minutes the ball was again spun to Nelson on the left wing, with inside center Royce Beaudry following up to take a short pass at midfield. Beaudry advanced the ball before dishing off to scrumhalf Jay Herrera, who had come across the field in support. Herrera sped the remaining distance and this time Nelson’s conversion kick was good for a 12-0 Tech lead.

Tech’s forwards kept the pressure on with solid scrummaging, plentiful lineout (inbounds) possession, and dangerous backfield running. At 22 minutes the ball was lateraled from Herrera to James Fallt to Beaudry to Tadano to Nelson, who drew two defenders to him and deftly offloaded to Josh Hill, playing his first match at fullback. The Atlanta-raised speedster easily outraced the cover defense to score from 40 meters and after the conversion kick sailed wide Tech led 17-0. Minutes later Tech’s 6’ 4” lock Steve Graves alertly picked up a loose ball behind the opposing forwards and scored another long try down the left touchline.

The Brujos found more success against a less-experienced Tech squad in the second half. The collegians’ scrums creaked under pressure and their rivals were able to keep the ball through repeated phases of attack. Center Chris Smith got through to bring matters to 22-7 in the first minutes. Not long afterward the Pygmies were whistled for a penalty close to their line and scrumhalf Romeo Alonzo quickly put the ball in play and sneaked across for the Albuquerqueans. Former Pygmy Pablo Garibay next scored at 22 minutes to trim Tech’s lead to 22-19 with 18 minutes remaining.

But Tech reawakened to work the ball close and from a penalty the ball was spun right for debutante center Dustin Webb to score his first rugby try for a 29-19 lead. The Brujos managed one more try by left wing Jerin Aragon after 30 minutes but New Mexico Tech returned to the attack over the final ten minutes to safely wrap up their 29-24 victory.

Matt Nelson, who played the second half at flyhalf, added two conversion kicks to his try and was chosen Man of the Match by co-captains Matt Majors and Jay Herrera. New Mexico Tech will challenge New Mexico State University in Las Cruces Saturday September 15.

-NMT-