Queen City vs Northside & Quins Match Report - 4.9.16

Queen City vs Northside Match Report (D3) – 4.9.16

The day started out bright and sunny. The field at Infinity Park South was firm and fast. The day was warm and the field was starting to heat up. The Colorado weathermen were hinting of rain; but, did not materialize during our matches although the clouds did roll in during the afternoon. The league match was versus the Northside Marauders and the second match was against the Denver Harlequins D4 squad. Once again there was great support on the sidelines from the Queen City Olde Boys. A few of them even strapped them on for the second side match to fill out the side. Thank you OB for the support!!

League Match:
Northside donned Black jerseys; so, the decision was to wear the white jumpers. City received the kick-off and opened the festivities with good standard play. A good exit kick put the men in Black under immediate pressure. However, some poor handling and bad offloads allowed Northside off the hook. Finally, a scrum in the center of the pitch with City's put was ordered by Referee John Kenny. The ball was heeled and "Rum" was the call. Outside Center Dorian Bunn took the pill, made a break, and fed a hard charging Inside Center Scott Dishner who took it the distance for the 5-pointer. Flyhalf Scott Trench added the extras and City had the early 7 - 0 lead at the 5-minute mark of the match. However, the men in Black came storming right back. A mishandled kick-off was recovered by Northside. A couple of phases later the ball was spun wide where the Northside winger out raced the men in White cover defense. The ball game was tied at 7 - 7 at the 7-minute mark. For the next 13 minutes, the play was going back and forth as Northside was not giving any quarter.

A penalty was assessed by Referee Kenny against the men in Black for going over the top. The ball was punted into touch. A "Crusader" call was made. A bad throw was recovered by the men in White to restart play. The play was eventually taken into touch. The ensuing lineout was stolen by 2nd Rower George Jacobs and a high tackle was called against the men in Black. The ball was placed further down the field to a waiting "Cadillac" The driving maul was stopped short of the line; but, No. 8 Dan Herr peeled off the back of the maul to dot down for the try. The conversion sailed wide to make the score 12 - 7 at the 20th minute of the match.

At this time, the men White seemed to get their wind and get on the front foot. Good defensive pressure kept Northside pinned deep into their territory. Referee Kenny whistled the men in Black for not releasing in the tackle. A quick tap was taken and Northside was deemed to not be 10. Referee Kenny then issued a yellow card to Northside for the cynical foul and the rout was on. A penalty play was called after the marching of 10. Captain Herr called his number and made a strong offload to Hooker Steve O'Malley who powered his way for a five-pointer. Flyhalf Trench split the uprights to extend the City lead to 19 - 7 at the 26th minute mark of the game.

A scrum was ordered for a Northside knock-on. However, the play was botched as Scrumhalf Tim Coil had to eat the pill on the exchange. After the second "Avalanche" Hooker O'Malley alertly saw a gap in the Northside post defense and scampered 40 meters for his second try in 5 minutes. The conversion missed its mark; but, the lead was extended to 24 - 7 at the 32nd minute.

Another line-out was given to City as the pressure was mounting on the men in Black. A "Crusader" drove the ball deep into the red zone where the men in White pounded at the line. After the third phase, Scrumhalf Coil saw daylight to cross the chalk. Flyhalf Trench found his mark for the conversion to make the score 31 - 7 as Referee Kenny blew the half time whistle.

The second half started with a bang. The kick-off was placed deep and mishandled by Northside. The men in Black were whistled for playing the knock-on in an offside position. The quick tap was taken and again Northside was deemed not to be the required 10. Another quick tap after the march was taken by Flyhalf Trench and he danced his way into the try zone. The conversion kick sailed true by Trench to up the lead to 38 - 7 at the 41st minute.

The men in White continued the onslaught. A hard charging Prop Joe Kuka set-up the next sequence of play. The ball was recycled to Flanker Bryan Gustafson who drew in the Northside defense. The ball was again recycled and "Ocean" was on. The pill went from Trench to Herr to Bunn to Knorr. Fullback Alex Knorr drew the last defender and put Winger Alex Vivier into space. He out raced the cover defense to dot down in the corner. Flyhalf Trench hit the tough angle to convert to extend the men in White lead to 45 - 7 at the 44th minute.

Northside was the next to strike. City was whistled for a high tackle. The ball was quick tapped by Northside and passed to a Northside lock. The City backs came up hard in a defensive line; but, the forwards did not. A gap opened up in the defensive pattern and Northside's lock scooted through for the try. The conversion missed its mark to cut into the men in White lead at 45 - 12 at the 48-minute mark of the match. The pressure came back on Northside. A deep kick was mishandled by Northside; but, City was deemed to have knocked-on the ball. A 5-meter scrum was ordered by Referee Kenny. Hooker Steve O'Malley heeled one against the head and City forwards powered their way to the line in the scrum where No. 8 Dan Herr dotted down as the ball touched the line for his second try of the day. Flyhalf Trench continue his excellent kicking for the extra 2 to make the score 52 - 12 at the 51st minute.

The pressure continued as City was on a roll. A penalty was called against Northside for going over the top in a ruck. A penalty play was called by Captain Herr. Replacement Flanker Gabe Buzinski took the pill and went untouched as the Northside defense went to sleep. Trench hit his mark once again to up the lead to 59 - 12 at the 58th minute. City came right back from the ensuing kick-off. Taken nicely by replacement Lock Forward Adam Kuhl. Two phases later, Flyhalf Trench put up a lovely "Gary Owen" which was fielded by Winger Vivier. After chugging up field for a few meters, he offloaded to a supporting Flanker Gabe Buzinski who took it the rest of the way to place down in the corner for his second try in two minutes. Once again Trench nailed the tough angle kick to extend the City lead to 66 - 12 at 60th minute of the match.

The on-slaught continued as City kept applying their relentless pressure. At a scrum, City forwards applying pressure. The pass to the backs was mishandled and alertly Inside Center Scott Dishner scooped up the pill to cross over for his second try of the day. Trench added the extras to up the men in White lead to 73 - 12 at the 65th minute. From the ensuing kick-off, No 8 Herr took the ball up field recycling the ball as the defense finally caught up to him. "Ocean" was once again on as the ball went through the hands to Center Dishner who powered his way to the line for his third try of the match. Trench missed the sticks for one of his rare misses. The score line now at 78 - 12 at the 67th minute. Coming right back on the kick-off, two phases of play occurred before Center Bunn made the exit kick. Northside was whistled for an infraction at the ensuing ruck. A quick tap taken and the ball was passed to hard charging Prop Matt Boyer who bullied his way over the line. Trench once again split the sticks to make the score 85 - 12 at the 71st minute. Referee Kenny had seen enough and blew the final whistle. League victory number five was convincibly at hand.

Queen City vs Quins Match Report (D4) – 4.9.16

Second Side Match:
The second match pitted us against local rival Denver Harlequins D4 squad. The clouds had rolled in and rain was on the horizon. City kicked off to start the match as the Harlequins came out on the front foot. A stout defense kept them at bay. An excellent counterruck saw the ball coughed up to the men in Orange and Black. The Quins were deemed to not release in the tackle by Referee Robert Baun. A quick tap by Scrumhalf Francisco Romero placed the ball into Winger Eric Baliruno hands. Showing that he still had the speed, he raced around the corner for the first score of the match. The conversion sailed wide to give City the 5 - 0 lead at 5-minute mark.

The men in Blue and Red came storming right back. Deep in City's territory, a stout defense were keeping the Quins off the score board. The Quins flyhalf put an ill-timed up and under. Newcomer Fullback Ricky Layton fielded the ball, stepped one defender and then another to take off on a 90-meter jaunt down the sidelines. Another newcomer Inside Center Scott Garber added the extras and City extended their lead to 12 - 0 at the 11th minute. The rest of the half was a back and forth affair with good defense for both teams. There was a low point in the half for the men in Orange and Black as Referee Baun missed a punch on the floor to Flanker James Jimenez. James retaliated with a punch of his own that Referee Baun issued a yellow card over at the 33rd minute.

The second half was better offensively for the men in Orange and Black; but, the Harlequins struck first. Mishandling the kick-off set the Quins on the front foot and they scored an unconverted try at the 42nd minute to make the score 12 - 5. After that, it was all City for the remainder of the half. From a scrum, Scrumhalf Francisco Romero broke weak feeding Inside Center Scott Garber. Scott popped through a slight hole in the defense and offloaded to Outside Center Chris Kenson that we borrowed from Northside who took it the distance for the 5-pointer. Center Garber split the uprights for the extras to extend the City lead to 19 - 5 at the 48th minute.

Sustaining the offensive pressure, the Orange and Black put together some good phases of play. Flyhalf Bryan Gustafson saw an opportunity and broke weak down the sideline racing 50 meters to pay dirt. The conversion sailed wide to make the score 24 - 5 at the 51st minute. After a great jackal by the City forwards, Flyhalf Gustafson again broke free. As the Quins defense closed, Bryan fed a supporting Center Garber who finished the move for the 5-pointer. Garber split the sticks for the extras to move the score line to 31 - 5 at the 59th minute mark of the match.

The men in Blue and Red were issued their own yellow card for foul play at the 68th minute. City made them pay for their indiscretion. From a scrum that was going backwards, Scrumhalf Francisco Romero broke from the base of the scrum; executed a lovely chip over that took a good bounce and he gathered to cross the line for another 5-pointer. The conversion was missed; but men in Orange and Black extend their lead to 36 - 5 at the 72nd minute.

Once again Flyhalf Bryan Gustafson spotted a seam in the Quins defense. Bryan offloaded to Winger Baliruno who put Fullback Layton into space. The speedy player was not to be denied as he raced into the try zone for his second try on the day. Again the conversion was missed. The lead was now 41 - 5 at the 76th minute. The Harlequins were able to put together a sustain drive to close out the scoring for the match in the dying seconds with a converted try. The final being 41 - 12.

A great for City rugby as we notched two W's. Great support from the Olde Boys was again displayed on the sidelines and on the field during the second match. A good after match function was held at Dr. Proctor's with all three teams well represented. Many thanks to Dr. Proctor's staff for their great service. We are now a step closer to accomplishing our second goal of winning out the season and moving onto the championship match. There is still hard work ahead of us as to continue on this championship march. See you all at practice this next week. Man-of-the-Matches will be awarded at practice on Tuesday as there was not a good time to do so at the third half.

Coach