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.

The teams were spared the season’s high winds Saturday, and the match got off to a hopeful start for the home team when a Brujo forward was penalized after seven minutes. Captain Jay Herrera tapped the ball through the mark with his foot and then passed to his backs running at the try line 30 meters distant. Some nifty passing saw the Brujo defense outflanked, and expert try-scorer Isaiah Sanchez turned the corner to put down between the posts for five points, making Herrera’s two-point conversion kick a foregone conclusion.

The heavier and more experienced Brujo forwards punished the students in the set scrums for most of the match, often pushing a patchwork Pygmy eight back off the ball. Such was the case 12 minutes into the match, when the Pygmies lost control of the ball near their own line and Brujo scrumhalf John Eddy scooped up and scored. The angled conversion kick was missed and Tech kept a slim 7-5 lead.

The remainder of the 40-minute first half passed scoreless. Although the visitors enjoyed the lions’ share of ball possession, the Pygmies tackled resolutely enough to keep the Brujos out of the try zone. The students were able to win some lineout possession (inbounds throws) via the excellent jumping skills of number eight forward Matt Kretz, but they struggled to retain the ball following tackles. Their game was limited to the occasional streaking attack followed by a loss of ball possession and more close-quarter tackling of the big Brujo forwards.

Tech kicked off to start the second half and in tackling his opposite number Pygmy center and co-captain Royce Beaudry stole the ball. Without leaving his feet Beaudry spun away from contact and then wove his way 40 meters through a stunned Brujos team to score a try which was converted by Herrera, stretching Tech’s lead to 14-5 after just 20 seconds of play.

Ten minutes into the half the Brujos worked the ball close and after several stout tackles by a grudging Pygmy defense, forward Jerkin Aragon got loose to score the Brujos’ second try, converted by Jay Livingston to pull within two points at 14-12.

Two minutes later the ball was passed down the line to Isaiah Sanchez, who once again delivered by dodging his way through three defenders to score a magical try in the corner. The conversion kick from the corner was steeply angled and not successful but Tech led 19-12.

Halfway through the stanza Tech’s forwards had their play of the match. A steady scrum allowed hooker Marcus Chavez to heel the ball back to Matt Kretz at the back, who picked it up and broke right. Kretz passed to freshman scrumhalf Conrad Peterson, who in turn got it to Jay Herrera as the running attack developed. Herrera drew a defender and transferred to right wing Jon Alger, who finished the play with an exhilarating run into the corner.

Tech’s 24-12 lead was immediately in jeopardy as they muffed the ensuing kickoff and the Brujos launched a barrage of close-range runs. Finally 280-pound prop David McClain fell over the line for an easily converted try and with less than 20 minutes remaining the Brujos, trailing 24-19, were within one converted try of stealing the match.

Over the final 20 minutes the Pygmies passed their gut check by staging two successful goal line stands in. With one minute left hardworking lock forward Nick Aldape ended the suspense when he picked up a loose ball and flew up the left touchline to confirm a 29-19 season opening win for New Mexico Tech.

Nick Aldape was named Man of the Match by his team, who will face the collegiate division one University of New Mexico Lobos Saturday at Johnson Field on the main campus. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 pm.