It was a testing day for Mines Rugby as the team went down to CU 32-17.  University of Colorado (ranked #13 in the nation for Division I College Rugby) outclassed Mines Rugby in attack.  Their forwards were better trained and consistently created the extra man in offense.  Time after time Mines Rugby was outnumbered in the backline on defense.  Although Mines Rugby is a Division II school, the expectations for this team are much higher.

The first half of play was fairly ugly on Mines behalf with the score at half time 22-5 to CU.  Mines dedicated too many forwards to the rucks as CU played a smarter and very expansive game.

The second half for Mines was much better.  Mines forwards started to number up in defense by playing more of a thinking game.  Although the Mines offense was still stagnated, the predictable grit and determination of Mines Rugby came through.  The score in the second half was 12-10 to Mines.

All in all, Mines Rugby will need to improve their running game in offense and defense.  The forwards need to play much smarter - basing their defense on what the opposition is setting up.  The backline gave the opposition way too much room to move.  The territory game needs to improve.  In offense, the team will need to get a much better flow and momentum going by staying on their feet and also by creating the extra man by inserting some of the faster forwards into the inside backline.  From an offensive point of view the team was fairly flat.

On a positive note, the team played with courage and has much room to improve.  Despite CU being better trained and more experienced, Mines showed they have the will and talent to become a much stronger team and a real force to be reckoned with when compared to the likes of CU.  It will now be up to the coaching staff to enable this transition.

The new players for the team surprised with their somewhat natural rugby talent.  The new standouts thus far were Pate (Gretzky), Lowen, Frenchy, and Wade.  Actually, it was a tremendous effort by all the new players, many of whom will be competing for positions in the starting first team this year.

In summary, the team needs to get smarter and fitter.

The players of the day are as follows – in order:

Kitners - Great offense and stayed smart in defense
Pretty Boy - Tremendous attack and defense - great try
DC - Typically hard nosed - needs to play a little smarter and stay out of some of the rucks in defense
Baby - Brought an offensive element to Mines Rugby that was missing last year - great defensively
Joe - Has really matured as a flanker - played like a pitbull - needs to stop doing hitups
M Oliver - Absolutely fantastic in defense as a back, a real standout at lock in the latter game
‘Beer Can’ Dan - Almost started a fight - took it to the opposition