Queen City vs NoCo

Queen City vs NoCo September 13, 2014 – Match Report

Saturday found to be a beautiful day for rugby after a couple of horrible days before. The boys met at the Park-n-Ride at 88th and I-25 raring to go do battle with the Northern Colorado Flamingos in Ft. Collins. The pitch was in great shape with a distinctive slope and uphill lie. Captain Hayden Kinnear won the toss and chose to kick allowing the Flamingos to take the downhill in the first half.

The first half saw sloppy play on both sides. The men in White and Pink finally took control and made several attempts at the City line; however, some very stout and hard hitting defense kept the Flamingos at bay. The NoCo inside center finally broke through the line to cross; however, before he was able to dot down Fullback Alex Knorr knock the ball from his hands resulting in a 22 meter dropout. Heads up play, well done Alex. Once again the men from Ft. Collins went on the attack; but, again hard hitting by the City boys resulted in a turn over which Flyhalf Scott Trench put in a booming clearing kick downfield which the Flamingo winger mishandled resulting in a scrum inside the NoCo 22m. The ball was healed by Hooker Steve O'Malley which No. 8 Bryan Gustafson went on a "Gorilla" run powering his way over the line to dot down at the 34th minute of the match. Flyhalf Scott Trench was true with the conversion for a 7 - 0 Queen City lead. Ft. Collins came right back to finally figure out the City defense to score with a converted try at the 37th minute to knot the score at 7-all. However, the men in Orange and Black were not done for the half. The kick-off was mishandled by the Flamingos resulting in a scrum to City. After several phases with some great ball retention Scrumhalf Pat Martelli threw a tremendous dummy after breaking from the base of a ruck to set himself free to dot under the post. Flyhalf Scott Trench was accurate with the conversion for a 14 - 7 City lead. Right at half time Flamingos were penalized for a ruck infraction which Scott attempt a penalty kick from 40 meters out; however the kick went slightly wide for a 14 - 7 City lead at Referee's Steve Gore half time whistle.

With the downhill slope, City went on the attack after halftime. Relentless attacks at the NoCo line resulted in a penalty to the men in Orange and Black. Flyhalf Scott Trench split the uprights to extend the lead to 17 -7 at the 47th minute. However, the men from Ft. Collins were not done as they came back at City with vengeance. A scrum inside the City 22 saw the Flamingo No. 8 slip by the cover defense; however he knock-on the ball as he crossed the line. Everybody in the park saw the knock-on except the referee. He awarded the try which the Flamingos were unable to convert to cut the City lead to 17 - 12 at the 51st minute. Once again City went on the attack, pinning the men in White and Pink deep in their territory. After several phases of hard attack at the line by the Orange and Black forwards saw a great off-load to Flanker Gabe Buzinski to dot down for a 22 - 12 City lead. Flyhalf Scott was unable to convert to have the score remain at 22 - 12 at the 57th minute. City took the kick-off and once again went on the attack. Maintaining possession with some very good ball retention and cycling of the ball. The ball was recycled out of a ruck and passed to the backline. No. 8 Bryan in support put a nifty grubber through which was converged upon by the support players. The ball was once again recycled to Lock Ryan Orlowski who appeared to knock-on the ball (He claims it came off his foot); but, the Referee was not in good position to see the knock-on which Ryan regathered and barreled his way over for a 5-pointer. Flyhalf Scott Trench conversion was through the uprights for a City lead 29 - 12 at the 63rd minute. Flamingo came right back at City with some hard running and mishandling on the part of the men in Orange and Black to cross the line for at converted try at the 65th minute to cut the City lead to 29 - 19. But, the boys were undaunted and went back on the attack. Again after several phases, No. 8 Bryan Gustafson once again powered his way over the line for his second try on the day at the 67th minute. Once again Flyhalf Scott Trench was off-line with the conversion to make the score 34 - 19. The men in Orange and Black took the kick-off and again started to march down the field with some excellent tactical kicking by Flyhalf Scott Trench. The forwards once again did their job of winning ball. Scrumhalf Charlie Keener broke down the tramline to feed Winger Eric Balliruno who raced the final 30 meters to score just ahead of the Flamingo cover defense. The conversion was just wide for a City lead of 39 - 19 at the 71st minute. The NoCo Flamingos were not done and put over a converted try at the 77th minute to cut the City lead to 39 - 26. The last three minutes saw attack and counter attack by the two sides. The final whistle by Referee Steve Gore saw the final score of 39 - 26 to Queen City for their second league victory and 10 points in the table.

A good hard victory by the City lads. Tough defense, hard running, good ball retention and recycling was the order of the day by the men in Orange and Black.