Santa Fe RFC Fiesta Tens and 50th Anniversary Old Boys Match
September 04, 2022
Santa Fe Fiesta 10s Rugby Tournament
(Sept. 4, 2022)
For the 49th time in 50 years (we’ll just ignore the pandemic here), Santa Fe RFC served up the best-run tournament in New Mexico on September 4. When Santo legend Rocky Aragon organized a little 7s tournament up at St. John’s College in 1973 – our club’s second year – he probably didn’t suspect it would still be thriving 49 years later. Or maybe he did. Rocky’s crafty like that.
Twenty years later, in 1993, Fiesta 7s became Fiesta 10s, as the traditional Labor Day running fell so close to the fall 15s season. Club leaders reasoned that it would be better for the preparation of participating clubs for their bigger men to play, and the addition of those three extra players made scrums and lineouts more realistic.
As visiting teams have come to expect, in addition to excellent playing conditions on Santa Fe’s immaculately-prepared pitches, food and concessions were made available by the hardest-working group of volunteers around (and their wives) (and kids). Immediately after the day’s competition an ancient Santos tradition was renewed as six women’s, six men’s, and two old boys teams dined on mounds of lovingly-prepared BBQ pork. Then, it was off to SFRFC sponsor Santa Fe Brewing Co’s Headquarters for the presentation of custom-made trophies and free refreshments.
FIESTA 10s - WOMEN’S DIVISION
The women’s division shone in 2022 with six teams contesting, possibly the most ever in Fiesta 10s history. In addition to University of New Mexico and New Mexico State University sides, Albuquerque’s Atomic Sisters entered two ten-women sides and both Arizona and Colorado were represented, by Old Pueblo and Pike’s Peak respectively.
The championship match pitted ten players from Albuquerque’s powerful Atomic Sisters against Old Pueblo WRFC from Tucson. Although the final tally remains a mystery to your humble reporter, UNM coach and longtime Sister Joy Hernandez outlined the outcome. “I know the score was tied at half with the Sisters surging to victory with the help of a couple of tries from Julie Ngo in the second half.”
Ms. Ngo and a few Sisters teammates played in the Southwest Rugby Union’s (NM and AZ) thrilling win over Rocky Mountain (Colorado) in Albuquerque last December.
Coach Joy went on to say “I would also like to mention the strong numbers brought by both collegiate sides, over 20 players each side. Numbers had been dwindling since the pandemic, so it was reassuring to see so many participants at the tournament, both mens and womens.
“Both collegiate sides were hesitant to play the more experienced women's sides due to the high number of inexperienced players on both sides. But we needed not worry because the women's sides were very understanding of the situation and instead of exploiting their advantage they used it as a means to mentor the newbies. The camaraderie displayed was top notch and I am so elated my team was able to experience our rugby culture and its values.”
Well said, Joy! If you’d like to check on the collegiate women’s progress, see UNM play Colorado College at 11:00 am on Oct. 1 at UNM’s Johnson Field (ancestral home of all NM rugby), and/or both teams at once when UNM visits New Mexico State on the NMSU intramural field at 11:00 am on October 15.
FIESTA 10s – MEN’S DIVISION
Albuquerque RFC threw an early-season challenge to other Rio Grande clubs as both Aardvark teams advanced to the championship match. Their club leaders considered staging the friendliest of matches as the final, but in the end decided against it.
Hosts Santa Fe Santos, led by captain Ryan Weir and backs division selector Mateo Cardiel, eased past University of New Mexico 26-12, slumped against Aardvarks One 43-12, and finished on a high note versus El Paso, 31-19. The points totals were 100 for and 74 against.
Long after the masses had gobbled their fill of Fiesta Tens pig fare and hobbled off to Headquarters, Eric Schmierer and Co. were seen scrubbing pots, regathering field gear, picking up litter, and generally doing what it takes to be and remain a first-class rugby club. Thank you; let’s do it again next year.
50th ANNIVERSARY OLD BOYS MATCH
It became apparent immediately upon kickoff of the Over 40s match between Santa Fe Anasazi & Friends RFC and Old Southwest of Arizona that my romantic vision of a chivalrous affair was actually more of a romantic fantasy. When we set the match up in June I had suggested to OSW chieftain Adam Schwartz that we might start out gracefully (i.e. gingerly) with a short period geared to the two club’s oldest boys, before letting the 40- and 50-somethings carry on however they desired. Of course, there would be rolling subs, and maybe that first period could feature unopposed scrums for safety’s sake.
In the event Adam, at 55, was the only OSW player anywhere close to true geezerdom, the rest turning out to be strapping lads of perhaps 40 years, 1 month. That left Mike Lewis, Chuck Romero, Danny Torrez, Peter Dunn, and myself as the only fools near or over 60, and my call for dignity dead on the drawing board.
My other fantasy, that of softening up OSW at SF Brewing Company Headquarters the night before, seemed to have little effect. If anything the remaining ethanol in our guests’ blood may have driven them to an even fiercer level of play than had they been less fortified. Coming to the touchline for a break after the first 10 minutes of play, I heard Mr. Lewis, who started for us at prop, muttering “those guys are really &*%@* pushing!” An outrage, indeed.
The format turned out to be three, twenty-minute periods, and I sat out the first 10 or so. The Anasazi team had not only been out of action for over a decade but lacked clear cohesion in terms of comradeship. To be honest we fell short of a full team of old Santos and relied upon the good graces of veterans from the Brujos and Aardvarks. Those gentlemen happily joined in but there was not a man in our team who knew all his teammates.
Speaking as the oldest of the old, making up the numbers for Santos touch games over the summer and hitting a few shields the week before Fiesta 10s was no substitute for match experience under different breakdown guidelines than I’d experienced. Plus, I’m old!
Old Southwest, who play together several times each year, dominated possession and got over the gainline fairly often in the first two periods. Towering Anasazi lock Chris Bonahoom took one for the team in the very first lineout (right in the shoulder!) and we were forced into “short lineouts” for the remainder. I think OSW may have scored three tries in the first two periods, and another in the final twenty.
Early in the second act I bumped noggins with an OSW forward in a ruck. The impact had a sickeningly familiar feel and when I felt my forehead, sure enough, I got the red palm. I didn’t quite get the Arizonan’s plate number but he was evidently all right. I, on the other hand was done for the day. And so passed a month or so of dedicated “old boy training”.
Daylight emerged in the third and final period, as the Anasazi began to adjust to one another and string together several really nice drives. Old SW were forced into making or missing a majority of the tackles and now it was our guys hitting the gaps and recycling the ball, with maestro Cory Micander pulling the strings at #10. Our 40-something young bucks did their jobs and some of our older guys made some really fine plays. I believe we scored three tries or so in that last 20, but I’m not sure. At least one of my hopes for the day had evidently held: no one seemed concerned with keeping score.
Santo-Anasazi:
John Bent, Jack Lastovka, Andy Avery, Rob Harrison, Travis Hudson, Adam Jobes, David Jondreau, Mark Kelly, Seth Johnson, Ivan Calhoun, Calvin Ihoun, Eldon Pennington, Cory Micander, Danny Torrez, Chris Bonahoom, Chuck Romero, Mike Lewis, Dave Wheelock
Rio Grande-Anasazi:
Jim Domina, Aaron Spaulding, Jeremy Thomas, Pat McBride, Sean Callahan, Brian Miskimen, David Hopper, Tige Bailey, Joel Luevano, Brandon Bortoli, and Paul Street
