Former Pygmies Return to Haunt Tech

Right: Wing James Fallt scores a 70-meter try for New Mexico Tech in the second half of Saturday's match against Santa Fe. Supporting him at right is Isaiah Sanchez.

by Dave Wheelock, Rugby Director

SOCORRO, N.M., April 29, 2008 – A Santa Fe team featuring a bevy of former local collegiate players beat New Mexico Tech’s rugby squad 31 – 19 on Saturday, April 25. The veterans took full advantage of their first-half scoring opportunities while the students muffed theirs, giving the Santos an 16-0 head start going into the second half. A last-minute try by the visitors exaggerated the difference between the teams. It was Tech’s last fifteen-man outing of a spring season which saw them win four matches, lose three, and tie one.

Taking part in the Santa Fe win were former NMT stalwarts Ron Trueblood, Pat Simons, Rob Harrison, and Pat Garcia, as well as New Mexico State alums Cory Micander, Eric Schmierer, and Andy Avery.

Steve Graves soars high to take a lineout (out of bounds) throw from teammate Bart Hegarty (out of frame). Supporting Graves is Britt Catron as scrumhalf Jay Herrera waits to pass the ball to his backs.

Play opened under cloudless skies and a manageable wind. Santa Fe enjoyed a slight territorial advantage through 14 scoreless minutes until Tech broke through the first wall of defense with wing Marcus Chavez in possession. His pass to fullback Isaiah Chavez with 25 meters of clear space remaining was ruled forward, ending Tech’s first real opportunity. Ten minutes later Santa Fe broke the ice when center Cory Micander, a former New Mexico State University standout, served a scoring pass to Pat Simons, a 2005 New Mexico Tech grad. Micander missed the conversion kick for a 5-0 Santa Fe lead.

28 minutes into the first half a Pygmy forward was penalized close to the posts for illegal play in the aftermath of a tackle and Micander punished Tech with a three-point penalty kick and an 8 - 0 Santa Fe lead.

Three minutes later Santa Fe’s lead swelled to 13 points when Tech flyhalf Dustin Webb’s defensive kick went to the hard running Simons. The former Pygmy captain wove his way 35 meters past several would-be tacklers to score. Simons’s second try went unconverted but Micander raised Santa Fe’s halftime margin to 18 points with a short range penalty kick. The collegians missed out on another two probable tries in the first half. On each occasion a delay in passing allowed Santa Fe to reorganize its defense to stop the threat.

Experienced scorers Matt Nelson and James Fallt moved to the wings for Tech in the second half, and the home team finally got some traction as their fitness began to pay dividends. Less than two minutes into the second half, Tech drove forward and the ball was cleared wide to Nelson on the left. Nelson covered 40 meters to score untouched. The conversion kick was wide and Santa Fe’s lead stood at 16-5.

Tech’s defense tightened down to deny any lengthy runs, but Santa Fe worked hard to put former NMSU star Andy Avery across in the corner for an unconverted try to lead 21-5 ten minutes into the second spell. Fallt replied with a try to finish a thrilling movement in which several Pygmy backs handled the ball at 24 minutes. Matt Nelson’s conversion kick was good to draw Tech closer at 21-12.

Santa Fe’s Rob Harrison, a 2005 Tech grad, put over an easy penalty kick to ease Santa Fe’s lead to 24-12 before Fallt added his second try on a long gallop up the right touchline. Fallt’s try was converted by Nelson and Tech pulled within range at 24-19 with six of the match’s 80 minutes remaining. But it was Santa Fe’s Eric Schmierer who drew final blood, scoring a try in the waning moments to overcome a protracted goal line stand by the home team. Harrison confirmed Tech’s broken hopes with his conversion for a final 31-19 Santa Fe victory.

New Mexico Tech awarded its man of the match cup to flanker Joe Tyson in recognition of his hard attacking runs. The Pygmies will conclude their spring season May 17 as they compete in the Celtic Sevens, a seven-man tournament being held in conjunction with the 20th annual Rio Grande Valley Celtic Festival at Albuquerque’s Balloon Fiesta Park.

-NMT-