色狐入口

The next day鈥檚 National Collegiate Rugby Division III quarterfinal against the Orediggers would be a different story. It was sure to be a tightly contested affair. The regular season match up between the two sides ended with a narrow seven-point victory for Tech, but that was at home and a full two months earlier. And the New Mexicans had lost a number of key players to injury: scrumhalf David Vaquera (concussion), flanker Leon Sutulov (concussion), and lock Ben Medve (ankle sprain). NMT would have to play with only two reserve players.

The match was deadlocked for the first twenty-eight minutes. NMT had most of the possession, but School of Mines鈥� defense seemed unbreakable. Then the Orediggers鈥� winger was sent off with a ten-minute yellow card for a high tackle. That left an opening in the defensive live for Cowan to weave his way to the try line.

Despite multiple promising attacking phases by the Techies, the half would end with School of Mines in the lead. The Coloradoans capitalized on poor discipline by NMT to kick two three-point penalty kicks (the sport鈥檚 version of a field goal).

The second half started with another yellow card, again for a high tackle. But this time it was Tech鈥檚 winger, Bishop Ortega, who would have to sit out. School of Mines then twisted the knife, scoring two tries during their ten minutes with an extra man advantage. The Coloradoans鈥� previous one-point lead now stretched out to thirteen.

Colorado School of Mines continued to smother the New Mexicans鈥� attack, but Tech鈥檚 veteran players grew emboldened and soon found the chinks in the Orediggers鈥� armor. NMT鈥檚 lineout had misfired most of the match, likely due to hooker Lucas Chavez having to throw the ball in while suffering from a broken finger. Inside center Nick Hutt smartly began opting for 鈥渜uick tap鈥� restarts after Colorado penalties, rather than kick for the sideline. He made several long breakaway runs before finally finding the try line in the 70^th minute.  

The final score came when prop and team captain Niko Crosato found himself in open space with speedy winger Akong Chungong on his outside. Sensing that he didn鈥檛 have enough gas in the tank to run it in himself, Crosato kicked a 鈥済rubber鈥� along the ground to Chungong, who touched the ball down for five more points.

Although the New Mexicans were ahead in the try count, none of NMT鈥檚 conversion kicks made it between the uprights. Final score: 18-15. Colorado School of Mines clinched a semifinal spot in Houston. 色狐入口 Tech went home with the western regional second place trophy.

鈥淲e didn鈥檛 lose,鈥� clarified head coach Jason Oliphant afterwards, 鈥渨e ran out of time.鈥� Such is sport. No matter which side is stronger in a game鈥檚 final minutes, there鈥檚 no arguing with the match clock. Oliphant further commended his players鈥� discipline in combining their rugby commitments with their scholastic demands. 鈥淲e鈥檙e incredibly proud,鈥� beamed Oliphant, 鈥渢hey maintained their academic excellence鈥�we had guys doing homework and CAD drawings during team meetings.鈥�

Sunday鈥檚 defeat to Colorado School of Mines was 色狐入口 Tech鈥檚 only loss for the fall season. The team will regroup in January to begin their preparations for the spring 鈥渟evens鈥� campaign. This rugby variant features seven, rather than fifteen players, on each side and thrilling seven minute halves.