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Tech Ruggers Demolish San Juan Silverbacks 62-7 PDF Print E-mail
Written by Administrator   
Tuesday, 06 October 2009 15:54
Tech Ruggers Demolish San Juan Silverbacks 62-7

FARMINGTON, N.M. September 29, 2009 -- A 62-7 blowout was the furthest thing from the minds of a lean pack of New Mexico Tech rugby players making the trip to play the San Juan Silverbacks Saturday. At least it would seem so, considering the Pygmies showed up in Farmington with the minimum compliment of 15 players. But the absence of reserves a week after a heartbreaking 28-19 home loss to the Santa Fe Santos seemed to kick the students’ efforts up several notches to produce their best overall performance to date. 

The Tech Rugby Club (5-2) travels to Flagstaff on Saturday, Oct. 3, for the two-day Northern Arizona 10-man tournament. Tech will be competing in the major college division following two consecutive small-college championships. 

Tech rugby co-captain Bart Hegarty takes the ball into contact in his team’s 62-7 win over the San Juan Silverbacks in Farmington on Saturday, Sept. 26. Marcus Chavez and Nick McCarthy prepare to support Hegarty’s run after stealing the ball from an opponent (on ground). Photo courtesy of Patrick Hegarty

Answering the call Saturday from a team thinned by academic obligations, veteran Pygmies Nick McCarthy and Justin Guthrie shrugged off the dust of their own recent inactivity to help spark a Tech maelstrom.

The Silverbacks kicked off the first 40 minutes in sunny and windless conditions. The teams were evenly matched as ball possession alternated between them, with hard tackles going in on both sides.

After nine minutes Tech flanker and forward captain Bart Hegarty alertly pounced on a loose ball and his fellow forwards swooped in to secure possession. The ball came to 6’4” number eight forward Matt “Moose” Kretz, who broke a tackle and flew toward the Silverback try line. Kretz made a short pass to team captain Jay Herrera as he was tackled, and the shifty scrumhalf covered the remaining distance untouched. Herrera’s after-try conversion kick went straight through the goalposts and Tech led, 7-0.
San Juan fought back mostly through hard runs by their beefy forwards, and after 16 minutes18-year-old James Pierce rocketed his stocky frame through three would-be Tech tacklers to score from 20 yards out. The conversion kick was successful to knot the scores.

One-quarter of the way through the match Tech simply shifted into a higher gear. When the Silverbacks gave away a penalty close to their own line, Royce Beaudry, in his first game at flyhalf (first back), quickly put the ball in play and charged forward, crashing over the line to ground the ball before half the San Juan team knew what was happening. Again Herrera’s kick completed the seven-point play.

Four minutes later Beaudry repeated the tactic when the Silverbacks were whistled for offside, this time feeding a pass for galloping inside center Nick Aldape to launch his 6’2” frame horizontally while being tackled to score a try near the touch (out of bounds) line. Herrera missed the kick from a steep angle but Tech led 19-7.

 

With each score Tech was required to kick off, but Tech’s sure and aggressive leg-tackles had the Silverbacks dazed and confused. Five minutes before halftime San Juan flyhalf Grant Fox tried kicking over the blue Pygmy line, where wing Mason Timm fielded the ball and ran before passing to Isaiah Sanchez. Tech’s dangerous fullback eluded several tacklers before passing off to Kretz, himself enjoying a splendid afternoon of running and passing rugby. Kretz eventually linked with the ever-present Herrera, who dotted down the ball before kicking the conversion for a 26-7 halftime lead.

The second half was more of the same. Tech’s forwards continuously won the close encounters while running and tackling, with flanker Marcus Chavez, lock Jerod Aragon, and recent Gallup High School star Jericho Montano figuring prominently for Tech. Mason Timm scored two determined tries in the first 10 minutes, and then it was Chavez’s turn from a ruck close to San Juan’s line to remove all doubts at Tech 43, San Juan 7.

The final 20 minutes saw Tech reach the 50-point mark as Nick Aldape thundered nearly the length of the paddock before feeding Beaudry to finish the job. The agony continued for San Juan as freshman outside center Marshal Spradley dove in after a pass from Aldape, and finally concluded with Beaudry’s third try of the afternoon on a characteristic bolt straight up the field.

Herrera, of Laguna, N.M., succeeded on six of 10 try conversion kicks in addition to his two five-point tries. In a match brimming with outstanding play for Tech, Mason Timm was awarded Man of the Match honors by his teammates.

– NMT –

By Dave Wheelock/Tech Rugby Director

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Last Updated ( Friday, 13 November 2009 23:59 )
 
Tech Falls Short Against Santos Rugby Squad PDF Print E-mail
Written by Administrator   
Tuesday, 06 October 2009 15:50

SOCORRO, N.M. September 21, 2009 -- The Santa Fe Rugby Club overcame a strong challenge from New Mexico Tech in Socorro Saturday to come away with a 28-19 win. The Pygmies held a 12-7 halftime lead before going ahead 19-7 midway through the second half, but Santa Fe found the key to score three converted tries over the final 20 minutes.

New Mexico Tech senior scrumhalf Jay Hererra runs the ball in Saturday's 28-19 loss to Santa Fe. Supporting his effort are (R to L) Royce Beaudry, Max Crowning, and James Fallt (foreground). Photo by Dave Wheelock/New Mexico Tech

The Pygmies (4-2) will travel to Farmington on September 26 for a match with the San Juan Silverbacks.

Under partly cloudy skies on a soft Tech rugby field, the Pygmies drew first blood after 14 hard-hitting minutes. Fullback Isaiah Sanchez fielded a Santa Fe kick and started a running and passing counterattack that saw the ball handled by Jay Herrera, James Fallt, Nick Aldape, and finally center Royce Beaudry, who touched the ball down for a try converted by Herrera. Santa Fe struck back three minutes later when John Bent followed up a charging run by former Tech star Patrick Simons. Cory Micander slotted the conversion kick to draw the teams level at 7-7.

At 27 minutes Tech freshman Enrique Koerdell got over the try line but two tacklers prevented him from grounding the ball to score the try. Three minutes before the close of the first half, Isaiah Sanchez was more successful with a short run after a break through the defense by Herrera. The conversion kick was unsuccessful but Tech went into the 5-minute intermission ahead 12-7.

Fifteen minutes into the second half veteran forward Max Crowning ripped the ball loose in a tackle near the Santo line and freshman prop Jericho Montano came up with it and barged over for a try. Herrera’s kick was good to stretch the lead to 19-7. 

The Pygmies launched numerous attacks throughout the second half. Tech’s lineout throw connection between co-captain Bart Hegarty and a soaring Matt Kretz was much improved from last week’s victory over the Clovis Nomads, and the scrums were solid. But the home team was plagued by loose ball-handling in the tackles and repeatedly turned the ball over. In the final 20 minutes of play it was Santa Fe’s turn to go on the offensive, and the veteran-laden team made better use of their opportunities.

Santa Fe center Elden Pennington turned up in the right place at the right time to record three five-point tries down the home stretch, as gaps began to appear in a tiring Tech defense. Each try was successfully converted by the deadly kicking boot of flyhalf Cory Micander. The lead changed hands at 21-19 after Pennington’s second score, and his last-minute tally came on an intercept when

Tech threw caution to the wind in an attempt to score from near their own line. 

Tech’s Marcus Chavez was selected Man of the Match for his play at both hooker and flanker.

-- NMT --

By Dave Wheelock/Tech Rugby Director
 

 
Pygmies Win Inaugural Match with Clovis PDF Print E-mail
Written by Dave Wheelock   
Tuesday, 06 October 2009 15:49

SOCORRO, N.M. September 14, 2009 -- The New Mexico Tech Rugby Club opened their home season Saturday with a hard-won 17-15 victory in their first-ever match against the Clovis Nomads. The nail-biter marked the Pygmies' return to the standard 15-man format following a runner-up finish in the Santa Fe Fiesta 10-man team tournament over the Labor Day weekend.

New Mexico Tech next hosts the Santa Fe Santos at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19. The Pygmies have never beaten the Santos in a 15-man match.

Against Clovis, the Pygmies scored three tries (five points each) and one conversion kick (two points) to the Nomads' two tries, one conversion, and one penalty kick (three points).

Isaiah Sanchez of the New Mexico Tech Pygmies advances the ball in Saturday’s 17-15 victory over the Clovis Nomads. Also pictured is teammate Dustin Webb. Photo by John Rundberg

A light overnight rain Friday combined with temperatures in the 80s made for a sweltering Socorro welcome for the Rio Grande Rugby Union's newest addition to the men's division three competition. Tech competes as a collegiate Division II member. Clovis relied on the skills of a handful of foreign-born players to open the scoring after seven minutes with a 40-meter scoring run down Tech's left touchline. The conversion kick was missed from a sharp angle and the Nomads led 5-0.

Clovis's pack of eight forwards had the upper hand over the smaller and less experienced Pygmies in the set scrums, putting pressure on Tech's put-ins while handily winning their own. The Pygmies also had first-half problems connecting lineout (inbounds) throws with their intended targets, mainly jumpers Matt Kretz and Guilford College transfer student Graham Payne. The visitors kicked deep frequently, keeping Tech fullback Isaiah Sanchez and wings James Fallt and Enrique Koerdell scrambling to cover and attempt counterattacks.

Tech's saving grace lay in a backline of seven anchored by seasoned players who often advanced what limited ball possession Tech's forwards managed to gain. After 30 minutes of spirited play, flanker and co-captain Bart Hegarty's lineout throw was snagged by Payne and passed down the backline. Outside center Nick Aldape broke a tackle to score a try from 20 meters out. Jay Herrera's conversion kick failed, knotting the score at 5-5. 

Three minutes before the end of the 40-minute first half the Pygmies were penalized and Carlos Spencer slotted a three-point penalty kick for an 8-5 Nomads lead. Aldape supplied a heads-up gift for Tech just before the break by running down an errant penalty kick attempt by Herrera and diving on the ball for a try in the corner. Herrera further punished the Nomads with his conversion kick and Tech led at halftime 12-8.

Clovis profited 11 minutes into the second half when Tech freshman wing Enrique Koerdell was caught isolated while recovering a kick. Grant Batty recovered the ball for Clovis as Koerdell was tackled and sprinted 30 meters to score between the posts to set up an easy kick, and the Nomads regained the lead at 15-12. 

Midway through the half Clovis again kicked deep but this time danger man Isaiah Sanchez was ready. Jay Herrera caught up as Sanchez wove his way through several defenders and the two veterans produced a brilliant exchange of passes before Herrera delivered the ball the final 40 meters for the try. His conversion attempt sailed wide but Tech moved ahead 17-15.

The final 20 minutes proved an early-season test of stamina for both teams as high temperatures took their toll. Scoring chances on either side were desperately repelled or died for lack of support play until the final whistle sealed Tech's close victory. 

Nick Aldape was named New Mexico Tech's man of the match as a handful of outstanding individual performances emerged from a sometimes disorganized early-season effort.

-- NMT --

By Dave Wheelock /Tech Rugby Director
 
Pygmies Second in Santa Fe PDF Print E-mail
Written by JB   
Friday, 18 September 2009 02:03
Tech Ruggers Second in Santa Fe Tourney

                                Dave Wheelock
                                NMT Rugby Director

The New Mexico Tech Rugby Club opened their 2009 fall season with a second-place finish in the annual Santa Fe Ten-Man Tournament over the Labor Day weekend. Competing against five other teams in the collegiate and division two men's division, the Pygmies were edged out in the final minute of the championship match by the University of New Mexico, 19-12.
Rugby Tens is played on a full-scale field with ten players, five forwards and five backs, rather than the standard fifteen-a-side format. Playing periods are two ten-minute halves in place of the traditional two eighty-minute stanzas. New Mexico Tech won their two pool matches plus a semifinal against New Mexico State University on Sunday to reach the late afternoon final.
Tech eased into the competition with a 54-0 drubbing of the Chupadera Rugby Club. The Pygmies' first five-point score (try) of the season was touched down by standoff Dustin Webb after three minutes. Webb was good with the two-point conversion drop kick for a 7-0 lead. NMT led 21-0 at halftime on tries by outside center Nick Aldape and scrumhalf Jay Herrera and two more conversions by Webb, setting the stage for a second-half rout that saw the Pygmies cross for five more tries: one to inside center Royce Beaudry, three more for the powerful Aldape, and a career first for freshman Enrique Koerdell, a product of Santa Fe's Monte del Sol School. Webb’s conversion kick success rate was seven of eight. All eight of Tech’s tries were grounded by a fleet stable of backline players.
Tech’s dispatched los Vatos of Las Vegas, NM 22-0. Nick Aldape and graduate school transfer Graham Payne (Guilford College) scored first half tries for a 12-0 head start. Aldape raised eyebrows with his sixth try of the day in the second half, and then second-year prop Jason Boyer banged across with the forwards’ first try, Boyer’s first-ever five-pointer.
As expected, New Mexico State’s Chiles proved a far tougher challenge in the semifinal, having finished runners-up to Tech’s championship in 2008. State scored first when 200-pound center Mike Brewer broke through. The successful conversion made it 7-0 to the Chiles. But the Chiles’ indiscipline proved to be their Achilles Heel, as the Pygmies scored consecutive first half tries on quick runs following two State penalties, the first by that man Aldape and another by fullback Isaiah Sanchez. Tech added to their 10-7 lead in the second half, as Jay Herrera capitalized on yet another Chile penalty before lock forward Matt Kretz crossed for the Pygmies’ fourth try. NMSU’s Brewer scored a consolation try in the final minute but Tech’s 22-14 victory was already in the bank.  
NMT squared off with the University of New Mexico in the championship. After five minutes of even play UNM’s fleet-footed wing Chris Wisdom got away on the outside and legged 50 meters to paydirt. Trailing 7-0, Tech answered with a Nick
Aldape try off a well-timed pass by his center mate Beaudry. Herrera’s kick was good for a 7-apiece halftime score.
The teams parried back and forth most of the second half, but Tech had no answer for Chris Wisdom, who got loose again after two minutes to score an unconverted try to give his team a 12-7 lead. Tech knotted it up on yet another try by Aldape with less than three minutes left, as Herrera came through with the pressure conversion kick. But Wisdom broke Pygmy hearts by sneaking through a gap just before full time, making the conversion kick a formality; UNM 19, NMT 12.
Nick Aldape, a junior from Farmington, New Mexico, scored a massive nine tries on the day, while Isaiah Sanchez, who hails from Peñasco, was everywhere in attack and defense. The Pygmies will host the Clovis Nomads at 1:00 PM Saturday, September 12 on the New Mexico Tech athletic ground.
Last Updated ( Friday, 18 September 2009 02:35 )
 
Pygmies beat Brujos PDF Print E-mail
Written by Administrator   
Tuesday, 03 March 2009 00:53

Pygmies Manage Opening Win

 

Following the script of most season openers, New Mexico Tech’s home rugby match Saturday versus the New Mexico Brujos was not pretty. But if the student ruggers didn’t gain a lot of style points, they earned a big “A” for heart. Bouncing back from a 43-19 trouncing by the Brujos in Albuquerque last November 1, the Pygmies battled all the way through a tight 80-minute match to emerge victorious, 29-19. The win was all the more improbable considering the challenges faced by the team this spring in the absence of several players sidelined by heavy academic schedules.

Last Updated ( Friday, 13 November 2009 23:58 )
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