New Four Corners Rugby Club Falls to Tech

Right: New Mexico Tech Rugby Club's Hunter Riek grabs the rugby ball in a lineout against the San Juan Silverbacks in Farmington Saturday. Supporting his jump are Nick Falcone (obscured) and Brendan La Counte (#3).

Dave Wheelock, NMT Rugby Director

SOCORRO, N.M., Oct. 15, 2007 -- The New Mexico Tech Rugby Club downed the San Juan Silverbacks 24-5 Saturday, Oct. 13, in Farmington under blustery conditions. It was the first meeting between Tech and the new Rio Grande Rugby Union member club. The Pygmies scored three tries and one penalty kick while the Silverbacks managed one try just before full time to avoid a whitewash.

Playing into the wind in the first half, Tech opted to run rather than kick and had a decided edge in ball possession. Stout tackling from the Silverbacks and ball handling errors kept Tech scoreless while San Juan, manned by a few experienced campaigners and a majority of newcomers, lacked the team know-how to make the Pygmies pay on the scoreboard. In the 24th minute Dustin Webb broke through the first line of defense and lateralled to fellow center Royce Beaudry, who pop-passed to Mason Preusser. The first-year flanker made a perfect pass for Matt Nelson to waltz into the try zone and put the ball down for a five-point try. Nelson, who had a perfect day with the boot, then converted the try for a 7-0 lead.

Just before halftime a host of Pygmies separated a San Juan runner from the ball and after a few quick passes the ball came to Tech's Josh Hill. The fleet winger outpaced two defenders to score between the uprights, and following Nelson's kick Tech took a 14-0 lead into halftime.

The Pygmies had the wind advantage in the second half but the Silverbacks stiffened their defense, and continued errors by Tech kept matters even for the first 30 minutes. Finally, from a set scrum at the hosts' end of the field, the ball came to Nelson whose pass sent Marcus Chavez over the tryline from 20 meters. Nelson's two-point conversion moved Tech ahead 21-0 with ten minutes remaining.

78 minutes into the match Nelson made it 24-nil with a career-best penalty goal as his kick sailed through the crossbars from 47 meters. The Silverbacks preserved their pride in the last minute through sustained attacking pressure culminating in a short range scoring run from a penalty by number eight forward Roger Nash.

While acknowledging Matt Nelson's numerous contributions, rookie forward Bart Hegarty was recognized by his teammates as NMT's man of the match for his enthusiastic defense.

As part of New Mexico Tech's annual 49ers celebration, the Pygmies will scrum down Friday evening (Oct. 19) with their "Ancestors," the NMT alumni team. Kickoff is set for 4:30 at the NMT Athletic Ground.

-NMT-