The DU Pioneer Club Rugby team hosted the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs Mountain Lions on Diane Wendt field on Oct. 11. In the opening game of the 2014-2015 season, Denver was able to walk away victorious.
The kickoff went out of bounds and UCCS recovered the lineout. A long run by UCCS led to the first score of the game; a field goal that was good for three points. The next big play came in the 28th minute when a line out led to a big run made by DU freshman Brandon Wright that ended in a ruck where UCCS recovered the ball.
In minute 24 of the match, DU got on the scoreboard with a field goal kick from Senior Matt Clement. Ten minutes later, DU was extremely close to scoring again, but the referee called the play back.
Fans erupted with negative cheers on the call but it wasn’t long before the Pioneers broke into the try-zone to bring the score to 8-3. Darreon Swarts was the scorer on the play. The conversion, worth 2 points, was not good.
At the very end of the first half, senior Matt Clement kicked the ball to advance play and a UCCS player ran into him mid-kick. This closed the first half sent the game into halftime with the score at 8-3. Despite the fact that UCCS seemed to have the advantage on most of the scrums, DU was able to head to the bench with a lead.
Three minutes into the second half, DU scored another field goal to increase their lead to 11-3. Two minutes later, UCCS had an impressive run that led to them scoring a try but the conversion was no good. UCCS scored another try in the 22nd minute and again the conversion was no good. The score at this point was 11-13 with UCCS in the lead. UCCS was dominating the second half. With three minutes remaining in the game, Denver’s junior Jim Flanagin scored a try putting the Pioneers ahead.
The conversion was again no good, but all DU had left to do was hold UCCS and a win would be secured.
DU held UCCS and came out with a victory, their third in a row. The team’s first two wins came against the University of Northern Colorado and Mesa State. The final score was 16-13.
“We turned over the ball too much and we were playing their game. We were also too sloppy in the ruck. We’re 3-0 but this is a very young team. We graduated three All-Americans and going forward, I hope our experience catches up to us and we make the post-season like we have the last few years,” head coach Allan Wilson said.
The next DU Club Rugby game is on Oct. 18 against Colorado College-Red Rocks. A location is yet to be determined.
