El Paso Scorpions Spoil Santos Home Opener
Scorps in 27-21 Iron Man Rugby Win
March 19, 2022
March 22, 2021
Santa Fe’s Santos Rugby Club fell 27-21 at home Saturday to a committed El Paso Scorpions side. The Scorps arrived with the minimum of 15 players but went about their business aggressively to consign Santa Fe to a 0-3 season record with three matches to go.
Both teams defended well in the opening minutes until Santa Fe’s outside center Jaime Terrazas fielded a chip kick in the try zone after 15 minutes. Unfortunately the play was called back for a Santa Fe infringement earlier in the play. The Santos kept the attacking pressure on and El Paso were penalized three minutes later, but standoff Mark Woodward’s kick sailed wide.
A few other Santo passes went to ground at inopportune moments to keep the teams level, until at 33 minutes El Paso finally broke their duck on a runaway intercept try of some 70 meters. The conversion was good from between the sticks, 7-0.
Shortly before halftime, with the home team again threatening, an errant ball was kicked through and collected by a Scorpion back. Fleet Santo fullback Isaiah Sanchez gamely made up the offender’s lead but the ball just got over the line in Izzy’s diving tackle. The conversion was missed and El Paso led 12-0 at the break.
The Santos finally got on the board six minutes after halftime courtesy of loose forward Justin Stall worth's jinking 30-meter run through the middle to finish a multi-phase attack. Flyhalf Mark Woodward’s conversion was good, 12-7.
Quadarius Miller topped off another Santos attack six minutes later with an outflanking run of a similar length. Woodward maximized this try also and Santa Fe held a 14-12 lead for about eight minutes, before El Paso capped a long spell of possession close to Santa Fe’s line with a close-range try. The conversion was good to put the Scorps back in the lead and four minutes later a penalty kick stretched the score to 22-14, El Paso. Compounding the issue, a lost lineout at 79 minutes led to one last, unconverted try from El Paso’s right wing and a commanding 27-14 lead.
As referee Mark Kelly glanced at his watch, Santa Fe’s last man on, Jonathan Lithgow, shed multiple tacklers to somehow spurt over the line. Lithgow’s heroics, along with Terrazas’s laser droppie for the extra two points, averted a Santa Fe whitewash by earning two Southwest RFU competition bonus points. Final score: El Paso 27, Santa Fe 21.
Had a few more passes gone to hand, Santa Fe would have won this match. Forever-upbeat Mateo Cardiel was named Santos Man of the Match for his performance at scrumhalf. Hooker Dan Allinder and lock forward Jeremy Lithgow also received plaudits for their steadfast play at the center of a rugged match. Hooker Ryan Means immediately bumped up Santa Fe’s passion and pace when he came on in the second half.
The Brujos of Albuquerque will be at Santa Fe’s Municipal Recreation Complex next Saturday, March 26 for the return match of Santa Fe’s 25-15 road loss two weeks ago. The Santos then visit El Paso April 2 before finishing Southwest RFU pool play against Aardvarks at home on April 9.
For Los Santos:
1. Dan Allinder
2. Adam Jobes
3. Dylan Merrigan
4. Angel Villa
5. Jason Lithgow
6. Jason Osborn
7. Ryan Weir, captain
8. Justin Stallworth
9. Mateo Cardiel
10. Mark Woodward
12. David Niven
13. Jaime Terrazas Lozano
11. Ben Schlappi
14. Levi Caizza
15. Isaiah Sanchez
Also: Jack Lastovka, David Jondreau, Skip McGee, Ryan Means, Mando Herrera, Jared Skillman Richard Morris (coach)
