Capital City Ruggers Defeat Brujos in Albuquerque

55-31 in Albuquerque

November 2, 2024 - DW

The Santa Fe Santos beat the New Mexico Brujos 55-31 at Bullhead Park Saturday to run their autumn 2024 record to 2 wins without a loss. Santa Fe beat El Paso Scorpions in Socorro 40-24 on October 12.

Santo scrumhalf Mateo Cardiel opened the scoring with a five-point try, with Namibian-born sensation Milaan Van Wyk adding the two-point conversion kick. Brujos retaliated with three tries and despite additional touchdowns by Dylan Merrigan and Rainer Ball, the home team led 24-19 at the half.

Van Wyk grounded two tries for Santa Fe in the second half and fullback Isaiah Sanchez bagged one, with Van Wyk connecting on all three conversions. The Brujos also scored a try but never got closer than 43-21 as Milaan Van Wyk, a member of New Mexico Tech’s 2022 national small college championship team, stretched Santa Fe’s winning margin to 55-31 by connecting on all four three-point penalty kicks he attempted. Van Wyk’s last two kicks sailed through the uprights from 58 and 55 yards, respectively.

The Santos will return to Albuquerque Saturday, November 9 to compete in a ten-player tournament hosted by the Atomic Sisters Women’s Rugby Club.