Santos Lethal in Attack; Questions Remain about Defense
April 1, 2024 - DW
59-25 Win Over Thin Landsharks Team
A Santos team bursting at the seams beat a spare side from the Northern Arizona Rugby Club – the Landsharks - in Santa Fe Saturday afternoon. The final score of 59 points to 25 may have flattered the home team, who often appeared frustrated by their younger and smaller opponents but more so by their own lack of discipline. Besides the finer points of rugby which may or may not have been on display, Santa Fe moved to 5-0 in Southwest Rugby Union competition and one notch closer to the playoffs, fittingly being contested in the New Mexico capital city April 20-21.
The day dawned sunny, and warmed into the low 60s as forecast. To no one’s surprise the afternoon winds arrived just prior to the 3:30 kickoff. A bumper crop of Santos were present to announce their intention to contribute to Santa Fe’s announced run at the Southwest title and beyond.
Meanwhile, 16 or 17 Landsharks went through their paces at the far end of the pitch. The first impression was the relative youth of this team as opposed to the many veterans in the Santa Fe camp. Secondly, this was a physically smaller team than their opponents. One can’t tell a team’s prowess by looking at them, of course, a principle the Landsharks were about to demonstrate.
Santa Fe received the opening kickoff with a 20-knot breeze at their backs. After a few unproductive phases of play the Landsharks got possession and their backs showed considerable skill to launch an incisive break through the Santa Fe midfield. For the 10,000th time Santo fans gave thanks for the defensive skills of fullback Isaiah Sanchez. A few eyebrows were raised, however, when this page of the script was repeated very soon afterward.
Owing largely to their larger and more experienced forwards, Los Santos had most of the ball possession in the first 15 minutes. Lineouts were tricky in the cross-field wind, but hooker Diego Cardiel, brother to Santa Fe co-captain Mateo, managed to get the ball where it needed to go most of the time. Meanwhile his seven scrummaging brothers (Jeremy Lithgow, Dylan Merrigan, Jason Lithgow, Mateo Herrera, Aidan Gurule, Ryan Means, and captain Ryan Weir) were reliable in that department. Further testing the visitors’ resolve was Diego’s penchant for extending his right leg far into Flagstaff’s front row to repeatedly hook the ball “against the head”.
Despite some sparkling running and passing, especially by the Santo backline, the Landsharks’ saving grace during this period (and beyond) appeared to be the home team’s knock-ons, penalties, and subpar tackling, producing a more competitive match than might have otherwise unfolded.
After 17 minutes Santo #8 Ryan Weir picked up from a winning scrum as his scrumhalf partner Milaan Van Wyk drifted off to catch Weir’s short pass. A key factor in New Mexico Tech’s two small college national championship titles, the young man can run (and pass, and kick), the first of which he did to open the first layer of defense. After some good handling and rucking by everyone in the immediate neighborhood Milaan touched down for the first try, but couldn’t make the conversion. Santa Fe 5, Flagstaff 0.
For Santa Fe fans the mood quickly changed from confidence to dismay when the following kickoff by the observant Flagstaff kicker fell into open space and was recovered by the visitors. Apparently Santa Fe’s backs never suspected a kickoff to their side of the pitch. The threat was eventually snuffed out, and hopefully a lesson learned.
At 20 minutes the Santos brought the ball close to the try line and some crisp passing between a handful of back and forwards, culminating in a fine exchange between Milaan and Izzy Sanchez, resulted in Milaan’s second try. As often the case with plays involving multiple passes, it all happened too fast for accurate recording, but the names of Cody Simpson, Tadeo Herrera, Willie Uhrle, Jason Lithgow, Leon Wilson, and Cory Micander are scribbled in the match notes. A pleasing mix of backs and forwards. Flyhalf Cory Micander missed the conversion from an angle. Santa Fe 10, Flagstaff 0.
The remainder of the first 40 minutes produced plenty of exciting, troublesome, and downright weird plays, including dynamic end-to-end forays by both teams, a blocked 22-meter dropout, a high tackle on a Landshark in his own try zone, yellow cards against both teams, and at least one penalty against the home team for backchat. About five minutes before referee Dave Bracken’s halftime whistle, tighthead flanker Aidan Gurule scored for Santa Fe from what is becoming a trademark power run. Cory slotted this conversion for a 17-0 Santa Fe lead at the intermission.
After one half of play it was apparent the Landsharks were a resilient and capable side. Though not imposing physically, their backs in particular were running aggressively, often for large chunks of territory through a disjointed defense. One wondered whether Santa Fe could, or would, tighten up their defense and close the door.
In the three minutes following Santa Fe’s second half kickoff into the wind, the Santos knocked the ball on once and were penalized twice. From the second penalty, one pass from a simple tap and go saw the Flagstaff runner advance 30 yards without being touched. A sequence like this can produce stress in a rugby team, and can lead to penalties in the absence of practiced discipline. The notes from this portion of the match indicate mistakes and penalties against both teams, notably one on the Santa Fe team for excessive chat.
Eleven minutes into the second half, the Landsharks scored their first try through another pinpoint skip pass from their #9. The conversion was missed, Santa Fe 17, Flagstaff 5.
Only a couple minutes later, Flagstaff struck again, this time when the #9 spotted a defensive gap directly behind a ruck and shot through before dishing off to his #8. Again the conversion kick was missed. Santa Fe 17, Flagstaff 10.
Santa Fe recovered at 16 minutes after Diego Cardiel and his mates stole another hook. The ball came to lock forward Tadeo Herrera who forcefully sat a defender down while executing a 15-meter scoring run. Cory came good on the conversion, Santa Fe 24, Flagstaff 10.
Around 22 minutes pandemonium threatened to break out as Santa Fe defended a scrum close to their own try line. Fortunately cooler heads prevailed and the result was a 10-minute yellow card meted out to each team.
At 28 minutes Flag’s scrumhalf sniped the ruck once again, this time touching the ball down without being touched. Finally, the Landsharks landed a conversion. Santa Fe 24, Flagstaff 17.
Play continued in the same fashion over the next five minutes, with plenty of knock-ons and penalties, until that man Aidan Gurule finished off some straight ahead play by his teammates. Cory Micander added the two and Santa Fe’s lead stretched to 31-17.
Flagstaff decided to kick a three-pointer from a penalty less than 10 minutes from full time, performed by one of their wings. Santa Fe 31, Flagstaff 20.
By this point several substitutes had taken the field for Santa Fe, including one K.C. Martin, a familiar pain in the arse during many Santos-Brujos contests over the years. It was good to see the center running over defenders on our behalf for a change. Cory Micander came within inches of scoring after one such adventure and the ball was quickly recycled by a player the reporter owes a beer for forgetting his identity in the excitement. The one-meter pass was taken on the burst by highly decorated Southern California veteran Rainer Ball, plunging over for a popular try. Cory got up and converted, Santa Fe 38, Flagstaff 20.
Action centered inside the Arizona 22-meter line as the minutes ticked down and the short-handed visitors finally appeared to be tiring. New Mexico Tech legend Stephen Albritton teamed up with Willie Uhrle, another NMT national champ, Cory M, and one or two others to put Jordan Demas into space for a try, converted by the usual suspect Micander for a 45-20 Santa Fe bulge.
The northern Arizonans responded like a headless rattlesnake by scoring their fourth and last try, totally against the run of play. The conversion was unsuccessful, Santa Fe 45, Flagstaff 25.
Los Santos managed to squeeze in two more short-end tries in the waning seconds, one by loose forward Dane Robergs and the other from wing Mateo Cardiel. Cory Micander finished his very good, 7 out of 8 day with the conversion tee. Final score: Santa Fe Santos 59, Flagstaff Landsharks 25.
It being Easter the next day, The Club held an egg hunt for all the little shavers soon after the match. Too cute, as we say. Many thanks to the moms and dads who organized the mayhem.
Also a big thank you to Seth Johnson, Travis Hudson, Robbie Day, et al for another wonderful brisket lunch, complete with extras.
There are rumors los Santos capped the day with a successful hosting of our loyal opposition at the spacious headquarters of SFRFC co-sponsor Santa Fe Brewing Company.
Upcoming
April 6 will see Santa Fe’s third weekend of home matches on the trot, a rarity these days. We shall see how consistent competition can sharpen a team. Phoenix RFC is the target, with final kickoff time yet to be determined. We need this match, so stay tuned, we hope to see you there!
