Tigers Rugby Football Club got their second league win, 39-0, over Boulder RFC in the third week of the Colorado Youth Rugby season. The Tigers, 2-0 in league, 7-6 overall, will have a head-to-head match up with current division leader and cross-town rival, Northside Rugby Football Club on April 2, 20008.
The Tigers visited Boulder to play on the best pitch in Colorado, Pleasant View Park. Grassy knolls form the bowl-shaped rugby stadium. It is always a treat for the player and spectator to take in an afternoon rugby game at this particular stadium. True 22-meter in-goal areas (end zones), with goal posts on the goal line are a rugby fan's dream, like rugby was meant to be played.
The Tigers, won the toss and chose to to play on the front foot and kickoff. The Broomfield and Arvada based team attacked the deep left corner repeatedly until
Joe Mack scored on a break to make it 5-0.
Lewis Rosenberg of Ralston Valley High School, and
Tony Costello of Pomona followed with back line attacks to make the score 15-0. Gonzalez, Martinez and Costello missed the opening conversions. Joseph Gonzalez fought hard for the Tigers fourth try and
Charles Martinez offered up a beautiful drop-kick conversion for the 22-0 lead at halftime.
Boulder, represented by impressive and athletic forwards, fought hard against an aggressive rucking Tigers team. Support was plentiful from the Tigers Rugby forwards, including the aggressive back row of flankers
Travis McKee, and
Stephen Thatcher, with
Quincy Anderson playing the eight-man position. Duncan Yost offered aggressive loose play, and
Justin Sadler stole a few Boulder line outs from the jumper position. The Tigers back line was joined by
Andy Maul (after commitments with his track team) at half time. Maul worked the attack scheme of Tigers Rugby Assistant Head Coach,
Nick Samaras with great skill and quickness.
Travis McKee was sent to the Sin Bin for a retaliatory skirmish in the 45th minute.
Stephen Thatcher took the ball straight up-field for his first rugby try while the Tigers were one man down.
Tony Costello made the kick that followed.
Charles Martinez and
Quincy Anderson added a try apiece, missing their own conversions, to close the tally at 39-0. Quincy Anderson was the Captain and Man of the Match for the Tigers A-side.
Anthony Gaglia took home a bloody nose and the game ball for being the Tigers' B-side Man of the Match. Gaglia, of Pomona HS, led his team (in his first start at scrum-half) to a come-from-behind victory. Joe Mack, has a 5 game try-scoring streak, opening each game by touching a ball down in goal.
Duncan Yost fought off hoards of Boulder B-side players to put the Tigers ahead.
Luke Stanley, of Pomona, toe punched the conversion for the 12-7 final score.
The remainder of the Tigers schedule is as follows:
March 31 - U-16 (Freshmen & Sophomore) Festival @ Arrowhead Elementary School, Highlands Ranch
April 2 - Northside Vikings @ Broomfield Commons Park
April 5 - Rocky Mountain Classic Tournament - (Dick's Sporting Goods Park) April 7 - U-16 (Freshmen & Sophomore) Festival - (NWOS)
April 9 - Aurora @ Broomfield Commons Park
April 12- @ Colorado Springs
April 16- Fort Collins vs Tigers in Fort Collins
April 19 - Chaparral @ Broomfield Commons Park
April 21 - U-16 (Freshmen & Sophomore) Festival - (Boulder)
May 3 - State Championship Qualifying Tournament - (Dick's Sporting Goods Park)
May 10 - State Championship & Plate Semifinals - (Dick's Sporting Goods Park)
May 17 - State Championship & Plate Finals - Glendale's Infinity Park
Please come to the Tigers Rugby website for more information:
www.tigersrugby.com
Don't miss the next Tiger Rugby home game against Northside Vikings RFC (represented by Legacy, Northglenn and Thornton High Schools) on April 2nd, 5:00 pm at Broomfield County Commons Park.
Paul O'Brian, PT, CSCS, President
Tigers Rugby Football Club, Inc.
Secretary , Colorado Youth Rugby
c/o Accelerate Physical Therapy, PC
11651 W.64th Ave, Unit A-5
Arvada, CO 80004
xlr8pt@aol.com
Cell # (303) 506-8110
http://www.tigersrugby.com
http://www.acceleratept.com