Hockey season may be over, but Denver’s rivalry with Colorado College lives on through the spring.
The club rugby team (1-1) trounced the Tigers 33-5, for DU’s first win of the season.
“The win against CC was a massive win for the club,” club rugby vice president Joe Parker said. “It marks the amount of progress we have made as a team since the fall. We suffered a disappointing loss against CC in the fall but we are currently adopting a new and more expansive and attacking style of rugby and it was great to see the benefits in action.”
The Pioneers started the game well with a close range effort from sophomore hooker Brett Evans. DU was able to neutralize CC’s offense and sophomore fly half Andrew White crossed for the first of two tries and kicked the conversion from out wide, giving Denver a 14-0 lead going into the second half of the match.
Denver’s Joe Petrusich powered through the Tigers’ defense for another conversion, giving the Pioneers a 19-0 lead.
With their lone try, CC made the game 19-5, but the Pioneers battled back and White cleared through the defense for his second try. Parker rounded the scoring to boost the Pioneers 33-5.
“As a team we are not particularly big,” Parker said. “Despite this, we defended well against CC and in attack we have great speed which allowed us to move the ball effectively from side to side as well as run the ball from deep in our own territory.”
Most valuable player awards went out to Chris Nebenzahi for forwards, Petruisch for backs and Jack Wheeler received the coach’s MVP.
The Pioneers will finish the year with a few more matches and in the fall, the rugby team will compete in a league system, giving the team a chance to play at regional and national levels for a shot at a national championship.
“It is a fantastic opportunity to hopefully represent the school at more than just a local level,” Parker said.
That league will include competing against teams from the University of Northern Colorado, Regis University, Colorado College, the School of Mines, Mesa State, Western State and the Air Force Academy. Next up, the club rugby team will take on Regis University on April 19.
