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CU Rugby Photo of the Year! Senior Chris Martin on the attack at the College 7s National Championship.

Colorado rugby has disappointing season, looks towards future

 

This postseason reflection was written by CU Rugby's very own Scott Annis, as it appeared in the CU Independant.

 

Colorado rugby had a disappointing season in 2012.

 

After coming into the season with high expectations, the Buffs finished with a 3-4 overall record and missed their shot at the D-1A playoffs. Playing in the always tough Western Conference proved too much, as Colorado finished fourth behind Brigham Young University, University of Utah and Air Force Academy.

 

“Our record does not show the talent this team has, and this was a huge improvement over last year,” said Charlie Barkmeier, the starting eight-man for the Buffs. “Every game we played up until BYU, we certainly could have and should have won.”

 

The season got off to a great start when the Buffs beat rival Colorado State University 43-20 at Infinity Park in Glendale. The first half was a closely-contested battle, but the Buffs pulled away in the second half. After a couple of preseason losses, the Buffs stepped up at the right time and the team started to gel.

 

The team continued to play admirably in a very close game against the University of Arizona in Tucson, Ariz. The Buffs lost 40-36 after knocking on the ball while trying to score a last-second game winner. There were some questionable calls by the referees in the match, leading to some disgruntled Buffs players and coaches.

 

“The game against Arizona is one we felt we should have won, and there were some controversial calls,” Colorado coach Jim Snyder told Rugby magazine.

 

After losing such a close game, the Buffs were out for revenge, and Arizona State University was coming to Boulder the following week. The Buffs dominated the Sun Devils from start to finish, getting their season back on track with a 67-5 win.

 

The win made many people across the rugby world sit up and take notice of Colorado. It was surprising to many and proved that the Buffs were the real deal this year.

 

It all came crashing down the following week, however, as the Buffs lost to Air Force 55-44. Both teams knew it would be hard to make the playoffs if they lost this game. Colorado had an early 15-point lead and led in the game 44-43 with seven minutes to go. Air Force never quit though, and after the full 80 minutes, it was the Falcons who ended up on top.

 

After the devastating loss to Air Force, the Buffs knew they would have to win all three of their final games in order to make the playoffs. They started off on a good note, taking down the University of Wyoming in Boulder. CU’s Brendan Cox put the Buffs on his back while scoring four tries in Colorado’s 61-31 win over the Cowboys.

 

After winning the first of their three must-win games, the Buffs were looking forward to playing the University of Utah. In a Friday night match under the lights, both teams stepped up with playoff implications on the line. The Utes jumped out to an early 10-0 lead, but the Buffs came back and tied things up. After the first half, CU was down only four to the heavily-favored Utes. But in the second half, after some back-and-forth play, Utah started to pull away and took the 49-32 win.

 

This loss eliminated the Buffs from playoff contention. Utah is a perennial power in rugby, and the Buffs performed extremely well against tough odds. Many people saw this game as an indicator of good things to come for Buffs rugby.

 

“A lot of young guys really stepped up towards the end of the season,” Barkmeier said.

 

In their final game, the Buffs lost to the No. 1 team in the country, BYU, 99-12. The Buffs, already out of playoff contention and dealing with injuries after the hard-fought Utah game, were no match for the high-flying attack of the Cougars.

 

This season was a stepping stone for the Buffs, who are losing only nine seniors on the 58-man roster. Freshman Adam Page said he is looking forward to next season and the opportunity to play with a year’s worth of experience.

 

“We have the potential to go to the playoffs next year,” Page said. “I think our losses came from a lack of discipline and experience rather than lack of skill.”

 

Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Scott Annis at Robert.annis@colorado.edu.

Buffs look strong in fighting loss to Utah

The University of Utah took a big step toward confirming a playoff spot in the D1-A West with a tough 49-32 defeat of the University of Colorado Buffaloes Friday night in Boulder.

 

Props Spencer Vickery and Nick Mostyn both scored two tries for Utah and flyhalf Danny Christensen had a solid evening kicking for goal, but the Utes could not really shake Colorado.

 

CU’s lineout was at issue early on as the Utes filched two throw-ins and marched into Buff territory, banging their way forward in powerful fits and starts, seeking creases in CU’s defensive line until the hosts were judged offsides 30 meters from goal on the inside right hashmark. Flyhalf Danny Christensen drilled the penalty kick and it was 3-0 Utah two minutes in.

 

A Buffs chance to level from in front of the posts went begging in the 10th minute as a blast of wind skewed the shot wide right and the travelers rushed back into CU territory, consistently making the gain line plus the crucial one or two meters that kept them on the front foot at each phase. They spilled forward into CU’s 22 and flowed quickly to the Buff’s threshold. Utah worked a half-dozen crashes within 10 meters of their host’s tryline before loosehead Nick Mostyn punched into goal for the grounding, converted by Christensen. Utah led 10-0.

 

CU picked up their game and were able to effect turnover ball and serve their speedy three quarters near midfield. A Ute back was unable to find the handle on the pill and CU’s stellar outside center, Brendan Cox, scooped up ball and tore diagonally across midfield and into Utah’s 22 before being brought to earth. Flyhalf Chris Martin, moved to the pivot from fullback for the match, snatched possession from out the loose and jetted over goal for a try that reduced the Ute lead to five midway through the half.

 

The Buffs leveled things in the 26th minute as replacement fullback Jack Porter touched down in the corner after an extended period of maul work.

 

But Utah came back when tighthead Spencer Vickery shot out from a pileup to cross the line. With Christensen’s conversion Utah now led 17-10.

 

CU drew to within four as JC Trubelt de Nermont slotted a penalty. The teams went into halftime with Utah up 17-13 and everything to play for.

 

The visitors got directly back into it after the second half kicked off when Houma shot through a gap close in to dot Christensen’s conversion and it was 27-13 at minute 42. 

 

Utah extended their lead after a splendid 40 meter counter by replacement back Winston Harris along touch enabled a slick offload to inside center Tonata Lauti who crossed and dotted in the corner, and the Utes were up 32-13 at the 50th minute.

 

With CU on the front foot and threatening Utah’s goaline, left wing Bridger Walzer was spotted playing the ball on the deck which earned him a ten minute seat for his trouble, and the travelers were down a man at minute 52. The Buffs were swift to capitalize as Cox gathered the ball at breakdown 20 yards from Utah’s goal, found some space, and rocketed in for the try, converted by Trubelt de Nermont, amking it 32-20. Clearly Utah could not shake CU and the game was going to be contested to the wire.

 

Houma scored again, this time down the sideline, to give Utah some breathing space, but CU replied replacement prop Mike Sangaline, rumbling 22 meters to paydirt. 37-25 Utah led.

Utah's Walzer  jinked through midfield and at the ensuing breakdown Mostyn picked up and dove over for his second. 42-25. But Colorado's Martin quick-tapped and was in for another score to keep Utah honest. 

 

But it was to be Utah who had the final say as Vickery collected a long pass ten meters out from CU’s goal and crossed for his second and the front row's fourth. Christensen added the extras and Utah had the win they needed, 49-32.

 

CU travels to Provo UT this week for the final match of the season at BYU. 


Utah 49
Tries: Mostyn 2, Vickery 2, Houma 2, T. Lauti
Convs: Christensen 4
Pens: Christensen 2


Colorado 32
Tries: Martin 2, Porter, Cox, Sangaline
Convs: Trublet de Nermont 2
Pens: Trublet de Nermont

 

Article courtesy of rugbymag.com