Queen City vs Colorado Springs B-side Match Report

A beautiful day at Infinity Park to play a game of rugby. The men in Orange and Black were bound and determined to show that last week's match against the Quins was an abomination and they wanted to get that bad taste out of their mouth. The match was against Colorado Springs B-side which basically was against their first side that just finished a match against Glendale D2. City knew that it was going to be a tough match and was willing and able to face the challenge.

City kicking off, Flyhalf Scott Trench placed the ball up high and deep. Colorado Springs mishandled and a scrum was order by Referee Steve Gore. The forwards immediately went to work. No. 8 Chris Gustafson picked and made a hard charge at the Springs line. Recycle ball saw the men in American Red/White/Blue commit a ruck infringement. Flyhalf Scott Trench made them pay for their indiscretion and split the uprights for a City 3 - 0 lead at the 2-minute mark. City went right back on the attack; however, a good counter-ruck by Springs turned the ball over. City forwards showing their dominance took one against the head. No. 8 Chris Gustafson made a hard sortie at the Springs line. The ball was spun wide to Winger Alex Knorr who crossed the line to dot down for the try. Flyhalf Scott Trench added the extras to extend the City lead to 10 - 0 at the 8-minute mark of the match. Colorado Springs was the next to score. Their No. 8 through hard running and a couple of miss tackles on City's part saw the lead cut to 10 -5 as the conversion was missed at the 14th minute mark. The next several minutes saw City relentless attacking the Springs line; but, good defense saw the men in Orange and Black kept at bay. A deep kick by Flyhalf Scott Trench saw a lineout deep in Springs territory. City stole the lineout throw and spun the ball wide to the backs. The Centers, Hayden Kinnear and Scott Dishner , ran hard at the Springs line. Good crash ball by the two and recycling by the forwards finally saw No. 8 Chris Gustafson bully his way over the line for the try. The conversion sailed wide right to give City a 15 - 5 lead at the 20th minute. Springs once again answered as their No. 8 powered his way over the line at the 27th minute mark; but, the conversion was once again not good and the City lead was trimmed to 15 - 10. The men in Orange and Black sustaining the pressure saw a deep kick by Flyhalf Alex Knorr who had moved in from the wing as Scott Trench's hamstring tightened up on him. Springs handled the kick but was pinned deep inside their territory as City backs were coming up hard. The men in Orange and Black were able to "jackal" the ball away from the Springs. Good recycling by the forwards saw the ball spun out to the backs where Outside Center Scott Dishner found a seam and split the Springs defense to cross over the try line for a 5-pointer. Scrumhalf Charlie Keener added the extras and City extended their lead to 22 - 10 at the 38th minute mark of the match. The score remained as such as Referee Steve Gore blew the half time whistle.

After a wholesale change in the forward pack, City received the second half kick-off and immediately went back on the attack driving deep into the Springs territory. A turnover ball saw a scrum ordered by Referee Gore to the Springs. Huge pressure by the City forwards gave Springs bad ball for which they proceeded to shank into touch. A well formed driving maul ensued and the City forwards drove the ball over the line where No. 8 Chris Gustafson dotted down for his second try on the day. The conversion sail wide left; but, the men in Orange and Black extended their lead to 27 - 10 at the 44th minute mark of the match. A good solid platform from a scrum was the next order of the day. Scrumhalf Austin Cagaanan fed Flyhalf Alex Knorr who spotted a gap and accelerated through to go the distance to dot down under the post for his second try of the match. Scrumhalf Cagaanan added the extras to give the men in Orange and Black the lead at 34 - 10 at the 49th minute mark of the match. The next several minute Springs kept City at bay until they were able to mount an attack of their own and cross over for a 5-pointer at the 60th minute mark. The conversion was missed to make the score 34 - 15. The ensuing kick-off again put Springs under pressure. An outstanding counter-ruck by Prop Larry Sisk saw the ball spun wide where Fullback Bryan Gustafson filling in the line raced to the try zone for the 5-pointer. Scrumhalf Austin Cagaanan once again split the uprights for the extras to extend the City lead to 41 - 15 at the 63rd minute mark of the match. City kept coming. Springs could not handled the pressure put on them by the City forwards. Another good counter-ruck by the forwards saw City go into their "power" game. Good recycling of the ball into several phases by the forwards finally saw 2nd Row Ed Doka (welcome back Ed) driving hard to the line. Mr. Doka was stopped short of the line; but, Rookie Winger Andrew Brazell in support took the offload and bounced his way over the line for his "Zulu warrior" try. The conversion was missed and the City lead was now at 46 - 15 at the 71st minute mark. The men in Orange and Black kept driving hard at the Springs troops; but, good defense from the men to the south kept them at bay. Referee Steve Gore blew the final whistle and City claimed the 46 -15 victory. Although the scoring line was lopsided, Colorado Springs is a quality side and gave the men in Orange and Black a run for the money.

A good win for City. Now it is time to prepare/plan/scheme for our toughest match of the season against Glendale. A victory in two weeks will secure our position into the playoffs. Four training sessions lye ahead of us and we will need everyone at practice as we prepare to do battle against what is developing as our new rival. They will be gunning for us and we need to be prepared to play the best game as we possibly can.

Coach