Tech Rugby Team Second in Las Vegas Sevens Tournament

By Tom Dotson, New Mexico Tech Rugby Football Club President

SOCORRO, N.M., June 30, 2008 –Thirteen adventurous New Mexico Tech rugby players participated in the annual Las Vegas Midnight Sevens Rugby Tournament on Saturday, June 21, in Nevada.

Right: Scrum Half Jay Herrera passes to New Mexico Tech’s backs after forwards Steve Graves, Matt Kretz and Tom Dotson win the ball in the scrum against UNLV.

Tech played a fast-paced, aggressive game to claw their way to the championship match before falling to University of California-Riverside 19-12 in the first moments of sudden death overtime.

Rugby “sevens” is a variation of the regular 15-man game. A sevens team is composed of three forwards, three backs, and a scrum-half that links together the two groups’ efforts. Two seven minute halves are played with a one-minute halftime break on a full-sized rugby pitch (70 by 100 meters).

The Tech Pygmies didn’t let the 10-hour drive show in their first match. The Socorro men avenged last year’s semifinal loss to University of Nevada-Las Vegas with a 19-7 victory. A swift UNLV back cut through the Tech defense to score five points in the opening minute, but this initial stumble did not demoralize Tech. Elusive backs Matt Nelson and Royce Beaudry returned the favor with two converted tries (7 points each) before halftime.

The second half proved more uneventful, with several scrums awarded because of handling errors on both sides. Beaudry ran in to score a second, unconverted try in the final minutes adding 5 additional points to the Pygmy scoreboard.

Left: Royce Beaudry passes to Dusty Webb (second from right) in New Mexico Tech’s opening victory over UNLV. Isaiah Sanchez (foreground) prepares to link up with Webb.

Tech’s next match was their first of two against University of California-Riverside. Play appeared less polished compared to Tech's first match as handling errors and an occasionally disorganized defense stunted progress. The Pygmies nevertheless proved the better team and capitalized on Riverside’s errors.

Tech’s seasoned backs and forwards intercepted passes on several occasions, and continually cut through Riverside’s defense through gaps left in the middle and overloads on the outside. Three tries by Matt Kretz, Isaiah Sanchez and Royce Beaudry could only be matched with two by West Coasters and Tech won 17-12.

Godzilla Rugby Football Club from Los Angeles was next on the agenda for the Pygmy squad. Although the Tech Rugby Football Club has had international tours to England, Wales and Ireland, it was quite another thing to play a team of Japanese nationals. The Pygmies clearly would not be deciphering Godzilla's play calls. The fit and determined Godzilla players were outmatched by the larger, faster and more agile Tech lineup.

Wing Isaiah Sanchez quickly took the ball up the field early in the first half, as he plowed through four Godzilla tacklers. Tech's forward pack of Steve Graves, Mike Anguti and Matt Kretz cleaned up after his drive with a well engineered five-meter scrum and a quick try. Tech loaded up the scoreboard with a try by Royce Beaudry, and two by Matt Nelson. The second half saw Tech score two more tries, one by hooker John Rundberg and another by wing Tom Dotson.

Godzilla’s offensive game did not waver and they continued running up one side of the field and quickly passing to the opposite side when encountering defense. They scored a well-deserved try when Tech’s defenders had been pushed beyond their limits. Although Godzilla RFC earned Tech's respect by never giving up, the final score stood at 42-7 for Tech, including successful conversion kicks scrum half Jay Herrera and center Matt Nelson.

Tech advanced to the Midnight Sevens championship match finals with a 3-0 record and a rematch with Riverside just after midnight. Tech played fiercely throughout the first 10-minute half and bustling tries were scored by hooker Mike Anguti and center Royce Beaudry. The second half began with Tech ahead 12-0, but Riverside took advantage of over-eagerness and disorganization in Tech's defense which produced gaps and two tries. Only one of UCR's two tries was successfully converted and the score at full time was tied at 12-12. In the 7-minute sudden death, overtime the Pygmies compounded their previous mistakes by giving up an early try and Riverside quickly scored to win the championship 19-12.

Although disappointed from being unable to repeat their 1st place success at the Celtic Sevens Rugby Tournament in Albuquerque in May, the Pygmies made a significant impression with their strong 3-1 record and a good time was had by all. Viva Las Vegas!

Tech begins the fall 2008 rugby season on Tuesday, August 26, with practices at 4:30 p.m. every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday on the T Athletic Field. Interested candidates should come dressed to run and ready to learn this rapidly growing international sport. Experience is not necessary.

-NMT-