National Championship Rugby - Best Four Series - Infinity Park Rugby

Stadium, Glendale Colorado, April 26, 27 2014

Semifinal 1 : DU v SJC

Saint John’s College from the great State of

Minnesota and hometown Univers ity of

Denver would repr ise their 2013 pre-

championship match with the Infinity Park

Complex’ Kett le on ful l boi l in the f irst

semifinal match of the NSCRO Championship

weekend. A two-point midway separation was

changed up considerably in the second stanza

as the s ides batt led for placement in the t it le

game.

Nearly

twenty-f ive

percent of

the match

scoreless as

the sides got

after the pi l l

in ferocious manner, grappling f iercely at

breakdown and implementing forceful,

level ing tackles to cause stoppage. Denver on

the board f irst after that wild f irst interval of

play; after a period of mult iple-phasework

inside the Johnnies 22, Pioneers f lyhalf, Jake

Mil ler, with splendid second effort , bulled

across and touched down for 8-man Casey

Slattery’s conversion: 7-0 Denver with 19

t icks off of off ic ial Tim Luscombe’s t imepiece.

With windswirl and physical i ty becoming a

causal factor in bal l handling errors, the

teams exchanged possessions repeatedly

between the 22s unt i l SJC ful l on attack

inclose to goal and a defending scrumput was

poached by a surging Johnnie pack and DU

were on their rear leg. In it ia l defense

suff ic ient, though scrambled, and #10, Tony

Bauer,

forced

his way

across

the paint

for the

try that, along with an addit ional two points

from #15, Joe Thompson, on conversion, 7-

the-pair in the 28t h minute and a creping

warmth infus ing the grounds now.

DU regained the lead when Mil ler’s s l ight

hesitat ion pass to f irst center, Mike Gestal,

had that man in space for a mil l i -minute

before his off load to f i l l ing ful lback Gabe

Bram enabled the #15’s transfer to f lyer Osa

Ahie and his fast f inish for f ive: 12-7 Denver

after 33 minutes of action.

Saint John’s returned with verve and vigor to

claim its f irst advantage as the half expired:

wonscrum

18 meters

out from

the

Promised

Land and

halfback Nick Mans swift for the short s ide;

Thompson’s incision at pace and the angled

entry through and over goal ine for the center

dot, his own convers ion and SJC by 2, 14-12

as the lads went to lockers for hydrat ion and

instruction at Luscombe’s midpoint s ignal.

al l images : Garrett S i tzman

Pioneers looking electric, on occasion, whi le

Johnnies exhibited an impressive patience

with bal l control empowering their intensive

forwards play and Thompson cunningly

countering the Denver high bal l .

More of the same at the re-start with short

crashing salvos from the breakdown by each

side’s big men and effective l ine breaks

keeping the boisterous fans in the stands

vocal and on their feet for the f irst third of

the second stanza unt i l Sa int john’s with a

defending scrum f ive from goal: put reversed

and Denver wonscrum, Slattery’s pickup from

its rear , and the Pioneers backrow lock and

captain had broken the Johnnies defensive

al ignment for the touch down that had

Pioneers back ahead, 19-14, and the crowd

roaring.

And Saint John’s with the swift reply . A won

l ineout 30 meters out was fol lowed by seven

smashes out of the loose spreading the

defense lateral ly . A sure recycle out a long the

three-quarters l ine by Mans, breakdown in the

centers and f inal ly replacement forward Zach

Zoltek plunged across the l ine for the touch

down, with Thompson’s addit ional deuce

made for a new leader at 21-19 St. John’s in

the 56t h minute.

St John’s were back for two more groundings

by loosehead Peter Fagrel ius and openside

f lanker Noah Van Nevel, both converted by

Thompson, and the Johnnies had an

impressive, 42-19 favorable scorel ine after 73

minutes of action.

Pioneers were able to ground twice in the

f inal f ive with trys by outside center Travis

Barlock and loosehead Jace Jackson, each

converted by Slattery, but the effort fel l short

as it would be St. John’s in the championship

with the 42-33 result at Mr. Luscombe’s last

blast .

Scoring

DU - Try: Miller, Ahie, Slattery, Barlock, Jackson ; Con: Slattery (4)

SJC - Try: Bauer, Thompson, Zoltek, Mans, Fagrelius, Van Nevel; Con: Thompson (6)

AMOC: Tim Luscombe (Referee); Dave Fel lows, Dan Hattrup (RAs)

University of Denver Pioneers Starting XV Reserves #1 - Jace Jackson #16 - Connor Cavenor 2 - Paul Cadenhead 17 - Dylan Lindimore 3 - Bryce Stillman 18 - Brent lockhart 4 - Duncan Frost 19 - James Howe 5 - Anthony Fusco 20 - David Johnson 6 - Pete Racenis 21 - James Flanigan 7 - Landan Banks 22 - Nat Prouty 8 - Casey Slattery 23 - David Drori 9 - Matt Clement 10 - Jake Miller 11 - Charles Carlisle 12 - Mike Gestal 13 - Travis Barlock 14 - Osa Ahie 14 - Gabe Bram

St John’s Roster Starting XV Reserves #1 - Peter Fagrelius #16 - Zach Zoltek 2 - Dwight Higgs 17 - Bayert Salverda 3 - Garrett Larson 18 - Zach Muehlenbein 4 - Mike Hillman 19 - Tanner Hersch 5 - Lukas Ramsey 20 - Wes Kemper 6 - Ricky Kiley 21 - Teddy Menor 7 - Noah Van Nevel 22 - Richie Brown 8 - Steven Oczak 23 - Brian Raddick 9 - Nick Mans 10 - Tony Bauer 11 - Charlie Peterson 12 - Rob Otting-Crandall 13 - Casey Walsh 14 - Conall Quinn 15 - Joe Thomspon

15s 15s

NSCRO Semifinal 2: NEC v MSMU

Warm and blowy in the Kettle as Mount

Saint Mary’s University and New England

College squared up for the right to

challenge Saint John’s College for the

national championship. Big and powerful

each side’s forward packs and sl ick and

swift their backl ines in the second match

of NSCRO’s semifinal Saturday.

Near

miss

on a

St.

Mary’s penalty shot early as defenses and

offenses ramped up their schemes and the

battle was joined with gusto. Much action,

though no score, until NEC’s f irst f ive-

eighths Anthony MacQueston stepped

inside to space 30 meters from goal and

freed fullback Ky Young for the quickly-

closed grounding; completion by

MacQueston and 7-nil NEC in the 14th

minute.

NEC back for more midway through the

f irst forty as the shifty Young made

confounded stoppers en route to his

twenty meter dot that, with MacQueston’s

added deuce, opened it up to 14-0.

One more for New England; outside center

Jay Muniz with the l ine break at the 22,

followed by f l ipper application to a brace

of faux tacklers and that man had f inished

splendidly and NEC’s lead had increased to

21 by the 28th minute.

Now came the Mount with pressure at

their opponent’s 22 enabling 8-man, James

Campbel l, the corner and freedom to put

f lyer Jimmy Mahoney away in the corner

and St. Mary’s were aboard, 21-5 at

minute 33.

And the bonus-point try for New England

after smothering defense with the

attempted MSMU clearance blocked by the

peppery NEC scrumhalf, Ian Luciano, and

covered in goal by wing Sossori Borrey: 28-

5 at ’36.

One f inal score by

Mount as a

botched three-

quartersl ine

transfer was

collected by

Mount’s outside

center with the f leet feet, Travis Bewley;

40 speedy meters later Bewley’s touch

down and its conversion by scrumhalf Sean

Hartig - 26-12 the tall ies at f ield off icial

Scott Green’s halft ime signal.

Big, bossy MSMU forwards well-countered

by sly NEC grapplers at breakdown and

NEC’s f lattering rate of turnover the

difference in the f irst forty.

MSMU roared out of the lockers after

break and fullback Zach Hirschler the

init ial manifest as he crossed-and-dotted

just after re-start: 26-17 in the 43r d.

One more for the Mount as ball mauled

into goal was touched down for the pack

try.

Conversion

by Hartig

and

scoreline of

26-24, NEC

with MSMU

on the big

hunt just now at ‘47.

NEC would extend its lead to a handful

with penalty struck true by MacQueston

from 22 meters out on the interior hash -

29-24 at ’49.

MSMU right back at i t with the forwards

effort f inely f inished by 8-man Campbell

and 29 for everyone in the house in the

56th minute; crowd going for it in the

stands; and only the men on the f ield

seeming steady and disciplined.

NEC got a pair of touch downs from

MacQueston (’67) and 8-man AJ Mudford

(’70), each converted by the Big Mac of

points-scorers, and 43-29, NEC with ten

left.

Advantage extended to 46-29 with a Mac-

penalty struck surely at the 72n d minute.

Back by MSMU with the touch down by

openside breakaway, Tim Steffens, and its

completion by Hartig made it 46-36 in the

77t h minute, before a sticksplitter by

MacQueston and a last dot from Muniz

made for a result of 54-36 to New England

College at Green’s last blast.

Scoring

NEC - Try: Young (2), Muniz (2), Borrey, MacQueston, Mudford ; Con: MacQueston (5);

Pen: MacQueston (3);

MSMU - Try: Mahoney, Bewley, Hirschler, Pack, Campbel l, Steffens; Con: Hartig (3)

AMOC: Scott Green (Referee); Gary Hartzell , Greg Wolf (RAs)

New England College Roster

Starting XV Reserves

#1 - Will Darbouze #16 - Elou Joseph 2 - Ryan Gurrola 17 - Justin Lamphear 3 - Sam Parker 18 - Gio Albanese 4 - Darryl Wilson 19 - Sosori Borrey 5 - Mike Korn 20 - Ayomide Aimakhu 6 - Carlos Arteaga 22 - Zach Hall 7 - Perry Owens 23 - Ryan Crowley 8 - Aj Mudford 9 - Ian Luciano 10 - James Tayson 11 - Brendan Johnson 12 - Anthony MacQueston 13 - Jay Muniz 14 - Conor Fantasia 15 - Ky Young

Mount St Mary’s University Roster Starting XV Reserves #1 - Kirk Hofmeister #16 - Larry Forte 2 - Colin Tirney 17 - Rapposelli 3 - Jack Bonner 18 - Zach O’Grady 4 - Craig Sakowski 19 - Ryan Teague 5 - Matt Dramgoole 20 - Nick Maffei 6 - Peter Martin 21 - Edmund Piper 7 - Tim Steffens 22 - Tito Miranda 8 - James Campbell 23 - Casey Fury 9 - Sean Hartig 10 - Tyler Myles 11 - Brady Parson 12 - Dan Gary 13 - Travis Bewley 14 - Jimmy Mahoney 15 - Zach Hirschler

NSCRO Championships: 3rd Place - DU v MSMU; Sunday, April 27 2014

Cool, breezy and clouded over for kickoff of the 3rd

place match on NSCRO Championships Weekend at

Glendale’s Infinity Rugby Complex on Sunday

morning as University of Denver Pioneers and

Mount St. Mary’s University settled their rugby

differences. 25 in the account of wing, Nat Prouty,

made for Pioneers joy at the end of the day. A total

of nine trys split just unevenly in a hard-hitting and

entertaining display of sport stoked the Kettle’s fire

mightily on the Sunday rugbyday.

Denver got aboard early with loosehead prop, Jace

Jackson,

cleaving the

defense for

an eight-

meter scoot

and his

grounding

that, along with try converted by wing Nat Prouty,

had a 7-nil score for Pioneers.

St. Mary’s drew level after lineout seven meters

from goal was won and mauled to touch. The

ensuing Denver lineout toss was poached, mauled

to goal and dropped for the touch down with the

Mount’s loosehead, Kirk Hofmeister grounding the

pill; conversion by scrumhalf Sean Hartig from

between the hashes on the left side, and 7-the-pair

in the 15th minute.

Pioneers returned upfield in demonstrative fashion

after a territorial ranger off the toe of flyhalf Jake

Miller from inside his own 22, bounced to touch at

DU’s ten meter line. DU filched the lineout toss and

blindside flanker, Pete Racenis, made a fast fifty

large yards before offloading to finisher Jackson,

who crashed across from inclose; an added deuce

by Prouty and 14-7 in the 19th minute.

And Denver back for more straightaway. With

lineout won inside their 22, a scrumhalf Matt

Clement-Jake Mehlman inside handoff had

Mehlman clear for fifty fast before being brought

to the deck inside the Mount’s 22. Offload to

Clement and he was just shy of goal at tackle, but

cleanup by second row, Anthony Fusco, had the big

man free to cross-and-dot. Prouty good for the

completion and 21-7 for DU midway through the

half.

Prouty

notched

three

more

with a

form

penalty strike in the 23rd minute and 24-7 the

tallies, then.

With Denver attacking the Mount’s goaline, a savvy

steal of an errant DU sling put flyer, Jimmy

Mahoney on the fast track for the well-dotted,

ninety meter score. Add a couple for Hartig’s

conversion and 24-14 the primary numbers in the

29th minute.

A pair of further sticksplitters by Mr. Prouty had

the scoreline had the scores at 30 and 14 for

Denver as field official, Scott Green, sounded the

halftime signal and then sides went to lockers.

Intensity of effort begat jarring stoppages and thus

an inordinate amount of scrums, which each side

profited from at their put-ins, and led to

reasonably stable platforms for exciting three-

quartersline action in the first forty minutes of

play.

With wind blowing better

now, re-start and

formidable St. Mary’s

assault as the Mount

spent a considerable

while banging from the

breakdowns inside Denver’s 22 before being

awarded a free kick. Quick tap-and-go, and Hartig’s

swift service, followed by canny distribution of

flyhalf, Tyler Myles, with the miss-pass out wide to

five-eighths, Travis Bewley, and he had popped

through a sizable gap in the defense for a handful;

two more from Hartig with conversion, and 30-21

for Denver in the 47th minute.

Three more points three minutes on from a Hartig

sticksplitter at the ten-meter line just outside the

left post and 30-24 with the Mount right back in

the thick of it at minute 50!

The re-start went through goal, so St. Mary’s had

the scrum put-in at midfield, an extremely

advantageous position with momentum at their

back. But Pioneers digging deep when they must,

with massive shove and possession capture,

Denver were back on the front foot and fast after

it. Slowly patient their method with short pick-and-

goers from the breakdown, intermingled with

slings out along the three-quartersline and near

channel work back inside, as Denver made

headway against a determined Mount defense.

And Denver realized joy with St. Mary’s defenders

spread after containing lateral bashing movement

from DU’s large fellows inside of the Mount’s 22.

Breakaway Landan Banks, actively effective all

match running at the creases, sliced to space for

fifteen and his grounding converted by Prouty that

made for a 37-24 scoreline at the three-quarter

mark.

St. Mary’s back at it attacking the Denver line in

multiple waves until Hartig darted over for his own

conversion and 37-31 the numbers in the 63rd

minute.

But the final numbers would be for Pioneers as

Prouty split the sticks for a penalty and blindside

flanker Pete Racenis closed accounts on the day

with a try just before time expired for a result of

45-31 at Green’s last blast.

Scoring

University of Denver Pioneers - Try: Jackson (2), Fusco, Prouty, Racenis; Con (4); Pen: Prouty (4);

Mount St. Mary’s University - Try: Hofmeister, Mahoney, Bewley, Hartig; Con: Hartig (4); Pen: Hartig

AMOC: Scott Green (Referee); Dave Fellows, Gary Hartzell (RAs)

University of Denver Pioneers Starting XV Reserves #1 - Jace Jackson #16 - Connor Cavenor 2 - Paul Cadenhead 17 - Jake Mehlman 3 - Bryce Stillman 18 - Ian Roche 4 - Brent Lockhart 19 - James Howe 5 - Anthony Fusco 20 - Mike Gestal 6 - Pete Racenis 21 - James Flanigan 7 - Landan Banks 22 - Charles Carlisle 8 - Dylan Lindimore 23 - David Drori 9 - Matt Clement 10 - Jake Miller 11 - Nat Prouty 12 - David Johnson 13 - Travis Barlock 14 - Osa Ahie 14 - Gabe Bram

Mount St Mary’s University Starting XV Reserves #1 - Kirk Hofmeister #16 - Larry Forte 2 - Colin Tirney 17 - Rapposelli 3 - Jack Bonner 18 - Zach O’Grady 4 - Craig Sakowski 19 - Joey Caliguiri 5 - Matt Dramgoole 20 - Nick Maffei 6 - Ryan Teague 21 - Garrett Redd 7 - Tim Steffens 22 - Tito Miranda 8 - James Campbell 23 - Casey Fury 9 - Sean Hartig 10 - Tyler Myles 11 - Brady Parson 12 - Travis Bewley 13 - Edmund Piper 14 - Jimmy Mahoney 15 - Zach Hirschler

NSCRO Championship: St. John’s University v New England College; Infinity Park, April 27 2014

Under clouded sky with vagrant wind, St. John’s

University and New England College got down to

the business of settling supremacy in 2014 for the

national small college title at Glendale, Colorado on

Sunday. SJU were in defense of their 2013 title and

after 80+ minutes of intense-as-it-gets rugby action,

a champion was crowned, though thrilling

comeback was required for that victory. 17 in the

account of Johnnies fullback, Joe Thompson, and a

brace of groundings from NEC electrician, Jay

Muniz, meant for lively give-and-take this

Championship Rugby Sunday.

New England College Lions lost an initial aerial

exchange

and St.

John’s with

lineout 45

meters

from NEC’s

tryline. Toss

taken by the Johnnies and mauled 20 meters in an

impressive display of rolling, roiling movement.

However, defensive pressure and early-action

jitters causing mental lapses and mishandles that

reversed possessions a number of times, and

tension built its solid base quickly at the riveting

life on the pitch.

With St John’s hard at NEC’s line and Lions outside

center Muniz contesting superbly on rush defense,

New England’s #13 poached a pass in congestion

and outpaced the chase for a swervy, jinky 90+

meters on the lengthy diagonal for the touch down

that had NEC ahead by 5-nil after first five-eighths

Anthony MacQueston’s conversion attempt

hooked just left and 12 minutes had elapsed.

Johnnies pack spilled into Lions territory in short

bangers out of its formidable maul and SJU were

subsequently awarded a penalty by referee Tim

Luscombe at breakdown 30 meters out from the

posts and dead-on straight; the sticksplitter simple

work for Thompson and Johnnies were aboard and

5-3 the tallies for New England after 15 minutes.

SJU were receiving ball in static position, thus

inhibiting forward mobility at times, while NEC

were experiencing a bit of knock-on-itis, which

stymied their early action, and temperatures rose a

bit with play afield.

Lions with the wonscrum at St. Johns 22, spun and

four smashes from breakdown sideways and

forward got them inclose and the sling out for

Muniz, who made excellent pickup of a funky pass,

to cross-and-dot his second and NEC led, 10-3, in

the 32nd minute.

A shot at goal by Thompson into a

stiff blast of wind four minutes on

was held up by that bluster,

though turnover by NEC,

subsequent the 22-drop, had the

Johnnies back into the Lions 22

and fast after the pill. From won lineout five meters

out, SJU mauled into goal and dropped for a try

touched down by backrow lock, Steven Oczak, and

10-8 the scoreline to New England at Luscombe’s

halftime signal.

St John’s were as dangerous as you’d like with ball

in hand, but standing pass-reception and mishaps

at transfer the bug-bite for the defending

champions; while New England scrappy and solid

as a unitary force at work.

With skies clearing, SJU got the second stanza

started and were fast after the Lions goaline.

Staunch defense by New England blunted the

attack, forcing turnover. Lengthy territorial boot by

flyhalf James Tayson, followed by turnover at

breakdown, had the Big Cats with a lineout 42

meters from the Promised Land. That toss won and

spun with NEC captain and 8-man, Aj Mudford,

breaking into space and down into SJU’s business

district. Action flowing back across the pitch and

Lions hooker, Ryan Gurrola, creating the gap with

cunning faux-pass followed by fast scamper and his

grounding; the added deuce by MacQueston and

the challengers had opened up a nine-point

advantage at 17-8 in the 47th minute.

St. John’s back straightaway with the wonscrum

just inside

NEC’s 10-

meter line.

Oczak’s

snatch from

the back of

that scrum and he was quickly away to breakdown

at the 22. Recycle swiftly by halfback, Nick Mans,

and Thompson with the drifty-dodgy burst to

space, then goal for touch down and his own

conversion: two-point margin at 17-15 NEC in the

50th minute and spirits rising allover!

Lions got three back as MacQueston split the sticks

from 15 meters out and dead in front and it was

20-15 for NEC in the 55th minute; Muniz with the

big defensive, as well as the sizable offensive,

delivery leading the Lions by example along with

NEC’s ubiquitous scrumhalf, Ian Luciano.

An NEC defending lineout five meters out, won and

cleared by Tayson; quick throw-in by the Johnnies

and excitement from

their three-quarters

until knock-on created

stoppage. Lions lost a

consequent scrumput

ten meters out from

their goal and #6, Ricky

Kiley, with deft collection and cash-in-goal with the

try that, with Thompson’s plus-two, made for SJU’s

first lead at 22-20 at the 65th minute.

Sticksplitter by Thompson from 22 meters outside

the left post and Johnnies lead at a handful now,

25-20, at minute 69.

Lions roared right back with fullback, Ky Young,

swatting away a tackle en route to the leveler, 25-

for everyone in the house now in the 73rd minute

with all aboard mentally jumping!

And it would be the defending champions,

champions once again, after a brace of scores at

’75 (wing, Charlie Peterson) and ’79 (Kiley,

converted by Thompson) made for a 37-25 result

with Luscombe’s final whistle.

Scoring

SJU - Try: Oczak, Thompson, Kiley (2), Peterson; Con: Thompson (3); Pen: Thompson (2);

NEC - Try: Muniz (2), Gurrola, Young; Con: MacQueston; Pen: MacQueston

AMOC: Tim Luscombe (Referee); Dan Hattrup, Greg Wolf (RAs)

St John’s Roster Starting XV Reserves #1 - Peter Fagrelius #16 - Zach Zoltek 2 - Dwight Higgs 17 - Bayert Salverda 3 - Garrett Larson 18 - Zach Muehlenbein 4 - Mike Hillman 19 - Wes Kemper 5 - Lukas Ramsey 20 - Tanner Hersch 6 - Ricky Kiley 21 - Bobby Thomas 7 - Noah Van Nevel 22 - Richie Brown 8 - Steven Oczak 23 - Brian Raddick 9 - Nick Mans 10 - Tony Bauer 11 - Charlie Peterson 12 - Rob Otting-Crandall 13 - Casey Walsh 14 - Conall Quinn 15 - Joe Thomspon

New England Roster Starting XV Reserves #1 - Will Darbouze #16 - Elou Joseph 2 - Ryan Gurrola 17 - Justin Lamphear 3 - Sam Parker 18 - Sosori Borrey 4 - Darryl Wilson 19 - Ayomide Aimakhu 5 - Mike Korn 20 - Chris Prochaska 6 - Carlos Arteaga 21 - Zach Hall 7 - Perry Owens 22 - Ryan Crowley 8 - Aj Mudford 23 - Gary Spencer 9 - Ian Luciano 10 - James Tayson 11 - Brendan Johnson 12 - Anthony MacQueston 13 - Jay Muniz 14 - Conor Fantasia 15 - Ky Young