The Boulder Valley Lions Rugby Club played their first league match Wednesday afternoon against the tough and experienced Legacy side. The Lions came away with 10-3 victory in a very physical match.
Play opened with Legacy kicking to Boulder. The ball was quickly turned over to Legacy. Legacy then spent most of the first twenty minutes of the match in Boulder Valley's half and dominated possession. The Lions pressure defense was effective in not allowing the Legacy side to mount any kind of fluid attack. Legacy continued to dominate possession as the Lions had difficulty winning the ball in the break down.
In the 22
nd minute the Lions reversed field position on nice clearing kick by
Kyle Henson. Boulder Valley found itself with a scrum down near the Legacy 22.
Ryan Buckmaster took the ball off of the back of the scrum and went right. When he met opposition he set a nice platform and the Lions maintained possession, reversing the flow of play by taking the ball to the left.
Steve Tavares took the ball at pace and broke the Legacy line to score center post.Henson successfully converted to put the Lions ahead, 7-0.
Shortly thereafter Legacy was again in Boulder's half and the Lions conceded a penalty for offside on a clearing kick. Legacy elected to go for goal and made the kick to put the tally at 7-3. The half ended with Boulder Valley up by four. Throughout the first half Legacy dominated possession and field position but the Lions were opportunistic and tackled well.
The second half opened with Boulder kicking to Legacy. The Boulder defense kept Legacy pinned in its own end and Legacy conceded a penalty 30 meters from goal. The Lions chose to go for points andHenson slotted the kick to put the Lions up 10-3.
Throughout the half Boulder Valley upped the intensity and did a much better job of retaining possession at the breakdown. Both teams battled with physical play in the tackles and the breakdowns.
Rocky Ashby and Tavares inspired the team with their hard tackling behind the Legacy gain line. The Lions started to the move the ball well as their opportunities increased but could never crack the Legacy defense. In the 30
th minute, Legacy was awarded a penalty for the Lions coming in the side of the ruck.
Legacy kicked for touch and put the ball at the Lions' 5-meter line. For the next four minutes Legacy pounded at the goal line through several phases and multiple set pieces. The Boulder defense not only held but started to drive Legacy backward.
The Lions produced a turnover in a ruck 15 meters from their own goal and made a clearing kick down the right sideline. A good chase and pressure by the Lions produced the ball and the Lions moved the ball through several hands to put the ball inside the Legacy 22. Boulder turned the ball over on a knock-on to give Legacy a scrum in the closing seconds of the match. Boulder stole the hook and made another nice movement that eventually ended with ball carrier going into touch and the referee blowing the final whistle.