Tech Ruggers Succeed Under Pressure

Beat Colorado State University 17-7

by Dave Wheelock, NMT Rugby Director

SOCORRO, N.M., Nov. 7, 2007 -- On their Oct. 27 game, the Pygmies didn't back down. Faced with their toughest challenge since their shock loss to New Mexico State University 19-12 on September 15, the New Mexico Tech Rugby Club gutted out a 17-7 win over Colorado State University Saturday in Albuquerque. Tech trailed until the final 15 minutes before scoring back-to-back tries which broke the Rams' backs and brought the Pygmies' autumn record to 13 wins and two losses.

“The first couple of times I ran the ball I got hit really hard and I thought, ‘this is going to be a hard game,’” commented Tech scrumhalf and captain, Jay Herrera.

Colorado State, a Division One collegiate member of the Eastern Rockies Rugby Union, was in the Duke City for a league match with the University of New Mexico. New Mexico Tech, a Division Two competitor in the Rio Grande Union, squared off against the second of CSU's three playing sides. In the Division One match up, Colorado State prevailed 22-10. On September 29 New Mexico Tech had defeated UNM 25-12.

Tech moved the ball satisfactorily against the athletic Rams in the opening minutes, with the northerners showing equal competence. Both teams had penalty goal-kicking opportunities in the first 15 minutes, but neither first-year forward Jeremiah Morse of NMT nor CSU's Jeff Odell could connect. 22 minutes into the first half the Rams chased a kick into Tech territory and took advantage of a generous bounce to score between the posts. The conversion kick was good for a seven to nil advantage.

Four minutes later Tech rookie fullback Isaiah Sanchez showed why his stock continues to rise with a self-manufactured scoring run through the heart of the Rams' defense. Morse's kicking woes continued on the conversion attempt and Tech trailed at halftime 7-5.

In the second half CSU steadily exerted pressure on Tech's sources of ball possession. Their forward eight twisted the scrums to spoil Tech's put-ins, the backs advanced quickly to defend their dangerous Pygmy counterparts, and the Rams repeatedly stole the ball in tackle situations. Regular lineout thrower Nick McCarthy had come out at halftime and first-year replacement Bart Hegarty struggled to connect with stellar jumper Steve Graves. Thus robbed of usually reliable sources of possession, the Pygmies committed themselves to winning the loose balls released after each tackle.

Play carried from one end of the field to the other as threatening attacks were repelled by each team. After 25 minutes NMT club president and flanker Tom Dotson stole the ball while tackling a Ram runner on the short side of the field. It was quickly passed left to Tech's backs, who expertly worked the ball over 50 meters to put center Royce Beaudry into the try zone for a five point try. Once again the conversion kick was missed but Tech finally led 10-7 with 15 minutes remaining. One minute later the Pygmies gave themselves some breathing room when the backs executed a thrilling running and passing move in which Matt Nelson handled three times before scoring between the posts. The Pygmy faithful cheered wildly as Nelson converted his own try for a 17-7 lead, but it was white knuckles all around until the final whistle.

Royce Beaudry was recognized by his teammates as Tech's man of the match, with strong supporting performances from Matt Nelson, James Fallt, Dustin Webb, Isaiah Sanchez, and Marcus Chavez.

Having earned a passing grade in a stern test, New Mexico Tech looks forward to an open weekend before hosting the El Paso Rugby Club in their closing match of the fall season on November 10. The Scorpions, a Rio Grande men's division team, beat Tech 55-6 in their last meeting in El Paso on March 17.

-NMT-