Queen City Rams (24) vs. Colorado Springs Grizzlies (55)
RAMS vs Grizzlies Match Report 10.4.2025
Infinity Park Turf Field, Glendale CO
By Charlie Haupt
Partly cloudy and very breezy on this warm fall day. A threat of rain hung in the air over Infinity Park. The turf field was well marked out and inviting for a very good game of “footie” between two D3 league rivals.

Rams vs. Grizzlies:
The team decked out in their black and orange full kit were led out by Captain Steve O’Malley. The captain lost the toss. The Rams kicked off defending the north in-goal meaning the Grizzlies had the wind on their backs.

The Grizzlies were methodical, precise, and well-trained. They used the wind very much to their advantage. The Men in Blue used their well-timed off-loads to keep the Rams on their heels and their backs to goal-line much of the match. Possession was hard to come by for the Rams. The Rams defense kept them in the match in first half. When the Rams were able to maintain possession, they were able to make some headway against the Grizzlies.

As stated, the Grizzlies were in charge most of the match. Scoring first with a converted try at the 6-minute mark.

The Rams were able to gather themselves to go on the attack. A Queen City line-out was lost; but excellent defensive pressure caused an errant Grizzly pass which Fullback Conrad Thompson picked off and went for a rumble to bring the ball back into Rams territory. After two quick phases, Flyhalf Charlie Keener made a half break to put the Men in Black on the front foot. Once again, the City forwards recycled the ball retaining possession for three phases. Flanker Anthony Rice raced towards the goal line being tackled short; but he offloaded to Hooker Jack Carmone who plowed his way to pay dirt. Outside Center Ben Schlieper added the extras to knot the score at 7 apiece at the 13th minute mark.

From this point on for the rest of the first half, the match belonged to the Men in Blue using the wind to their advantage. Scoring two tries, unconverted try at 20th minute and converted try at the 30th minute. This brought the scoreline to 7 – 19 which remain as the halftime score.
The second half did not start out well for the Men in Black. Springs had a break away which Winger DJ Randolph caught up and was deemed to tackle the ball carrier high, dragging him down by the collar. The Referee awarded a Penalty Try and issue DJ a yellow card. This brought the score to 7 – 26 at the 45th minute mark.

The Grizzlies continue the onslaught against the Rams, scoring tries at the 47th, 52nd, 54th, 63rd, and 71st minutes. Only two of the five tries were converted.

Between the first and second Grizzlies tries in the half; the Rams were able to get on the front foot. A penalty against Springs, Center Ben Schlieper put in the very deep kick into the Rams territory. A quick line to Prop Turtle Ross feeding Hooker Jack Carmone brought the Men in Black close to the try line. A quick recycling saw Scrumhalf Kris Coleman feed a hard charging Captain Steve O’Malley who broke through tackles to City’s second try of the match. The conversion sailed wide to bring the scored at this point to 12 – 31 at the 50th minute of the match.

Once again, the Grizzlies were whistled for a ruck infraction. Replacement Scrumhalf Vinny Juarez quickly tapped the PK and sent the City backs on a rampage. Hands brought the ball to Winger DJ Randolph and the speedy winger raced to pay dirt. The conversion once again sailed wide bring the scoreline to 17 – 50 at the 65th minute of the match.

After a previous warning by the referee, at the 69th minute replacement Flyhalf Sylver Romero was issued a yellow card for repeated infringements by the Men in Black. To complicate matters, Center Ben Schlieper went down with a ham string injury after making a line break finally putting the Rams on the front foot late in the match. With the injury and the fact that all substitutions had. been made, the Men in Black played with thirteen men for the rest of the match.

Displaying a no quit attitude, the Rams had one finally soiree to put together. Before the injury, the ball was kicked to touch which the Grizzlies won. A miscue by the Men in Blue gave the Men in Black a scrum. Being two men down in the scrum, the Forwards held tight. Captain Steve O’Malley picked from the base of the scrum and charged his way towards the line. The Grizzlies stopped the hard-charged O’Malley. Scrumhalf Vinny Juarez picked up the quickly recycled ball and powered his way over the line for the try. Center Derek French added the extras to bring the score to 24 – 55 at the 77th minute. This remained and the final scored was 24 – 55 to the victors Colorado Springs who remain undefeated in league play.
Coach Sylver Romero pointed out after the match. “55 – 24 final. Tough day at the office but we got our bonus point try in the 77th minute down two men.” While the result was not what we wanted, the Queen City Rams never gave up. As President Mars pointed out “incredibly proud of the unit. The Brotherhood is growing and seeing you guys fight for your mates is incredible. We have four training before we take on the Highlanders.” The club need to set their sights on that match as we as a collective group should want to win that match badly.

GO CITY!!

Teams:
Queen City (24): Kevin Rutherford, Jack Carmone, Ross (Turtle) Nolan, Alphie Okello, Matt Deanda, Anthony Rice, Steve O’Malley (C), Heath Wolfe, Kris Coleman, Charlie Keener, Daryl Randolph (DJ), Derek French, Ben Schlieper, Tyler Caesar, Conrad Thompson
Interchange: Jose Nunez (73), Mason Mosbarger (73), Logan Kerby (60), Jake Hunter (60), Vinny Juarez (60), Fred Caesar (60), Brian Klaif (73), Sylver Romero (60)
Scorers:
Tries: Carmone (13), O’Malley (50), Randolph (65), Juarez (77)
Goals: Schlieper (1), French (1)
Yellow Cards: Randolph (45), Romero (69)
Scoring sequence: 0 – 7, 7 – 7, 7 – 12, 7 – 19, 7 – 26 (PT), 7 - 31, 12 - 31, 12– 36, 12 - 43, 12 – 50, 17 – 50, 17 – 55, 24 – 55
Penalties: 1st Half: Queen City 5 Colorado Springs 6; 2nd Half: Queen City 7 Colorado Springs 5
Half-Time score: Queen City 7 Colorado Springs 19