2024 High Desert Classic

October 5, 2024 -DW

Our Santos team finished as runners-up Saturday in the 52nd (or 53rd) annual High Desert Classic in Albuquerque. The Santos beat the El Paso Scorpions (25-15) and host team Albuquerque Aardvarks (24-5) but lost (25-15) to eventual champions New Mexico Brujos.

The first rugby action at Vista del Norte Park was a so-called “league” match between University of Arizona and UNM’s Lobos. When this reporter shifted position to attend Santa Fe’s opening match on the adjoining pitch around halftime, Arizona led three tries to no score for the home team. My assumption is Arizona won handily but the score went unrecorded by yours truly.

The Santos started their 2024 High Desert Classic against New Mexico Brujos a bit after noon. Significantly Santa Fe traveled to the tournament with just 10 regular team members. Guest players filled out the 15-man starting roster. Notable also was the competition format of just four clubs scheduled for round robin play with 20 minute halves. No women’s teams competed this year whereas the previous year there were at least three.

Although Los Santos & Friends produced some nice-looking attacking phases in the opening several minutes versus Brujos, inevitable chinks of having so many strangers in the side were evident, noticeably through an unaccustomed hesitation in securing rucks. At 15 minutes the score stood at 10-nil in favor of the Brujos, but then things began to fall into place for our guys and a pleasing multi-phase team try was touched down by prop Jeremy Lithgow. Each team scored an additional try in the short minutes before halftime (#9 Elijah Naranjo may have gotten ours) but the day’s pattern of curiously subpar conversion kicking left the score at 15-10 to the Brujos.

The Burqueños’ fourth try came courtesy of a Santa Fe tactical kick that allowed a bit too much counterattacking space, 20-10. Eight minutes into the half a dustup flared over something somebody did to someone who lost his cool (or something) and a Brujo was ejected for the remainder. At 14 minutes Los Santos were awarded a scrum in an ideal attacking position near the intersection of the naughty guys’ 22 meter line and the right tramline. The forwards – 1. Dylan, 2. Gabe-I-mean-Diego, 3. Jeremy, 4. Ryan Houlahan (Holloman Nighthawks), 5. Kyle Bacho (at large), Tadeo, Jeremy Armstrong (unattached), and Dane – did their thing, Eli passed out to 10. Mateo, who passed to 12. Ryan, who passed to 13. Justin aka $, who passed to 11. Bradford Cook (Holloman AFB Nighthawks), who scored in the left corner, untouched due to the red card. Rugby pure, simple, and smart. Brujos 20, SF 15.

By now our guest players had caught on to how we roll and the Brujos were very lucky to get by on a few unlucky knock-ons late in the match. One of these miscues was too damned close to our try line, and the Brujos were flattered with a 25-15 final score.

A revelation during this match was the defensive chops put on display by Santo newcomer Calvin Smith, playing fullback in his first rugby season since high school “a while back” in --- forgive us, Calvin - Georgia?

Match Two was with El Paso, who from a few glimpses at the neighboring pitch looked good in their opener against the Aardvarks. Unfortunately for our friends from the deep south this match was Santa Fe’s best look of the day.

The Santos won an early scrum deep in EP’s end and Elijah Naranjo scampered in for an unconverted try, 5-0. Santa Fe were then guilty of a mental lapse resulting in a simple overload for the Scorpions, 5-5. The Scorps next profited from a kick that seemed a good idea at the time it was launched to lead 12-5 at intermission.
One minute into the second spell another thrilling Santo attack featuring a long break by that wonderful husband and father Dylan Merrigan was consummated by powerful #8 Dane Robergs, who gracefully tiptoed into the left corner. El Paso 12, Santa Fe 10.

At five minutes Jaylon Colon joined his Holloman Air Force Base teammate Brad Cook, over on the other wing, in scoring his first-ever rugby try on an intercept. This excited whoever was kicking our conversions so much he actually made one and our guys went ahead 17-12.

A few minutes later team captain Ryan Weir scored a most odd-looking try as the Scorpions seemed to totally give up on even pursuing him well before Ryan had crossed the line. Mateo Cardiel, who shared conversion-kicking duties with his brother Gabe - aka “Diego” - added the two for a 24-12 Santa Fe lead.

The Santos played well in this second match and were never close to losing. (For those keeping track, Gabe stole a hook against the head in a scrum, as he is wont to do.) Considering our opponents’ apparent surrender before full time it was a rather unfitting ending when the Scorpions scored a late try to blemish Santa Fe’s 24-17 victory.

Meanwhile the Brujos were, unfortunately for Los Santos, kicking the Aardvarks’ disorganized arses to take control over their own destiny with two wins against no losses. Unless El Paso could beat them in the final round, the Brujos would claim the winners’ trophy. In the event the former did not happen, and so the latter did.

Unfortunately also sometime between Santa Fe’s last two matches a gong sounded and several players had to leave to attend to other parts of their lives. Such is modern rugby, a far cry from those early, irresponsible days enjoyed myself and many others who are still wandering around bumping into things.

Still, the show must go on. Our coach Richard (Morris) and Aardvarks coach Larry Spurgeon (always the gentleman) agreed to play the last match as 12-a-side for 24 minutes while an overworked Jim Domina volunteered to referee the contest. For whatever reason, no Southwest Union referees attended the tournament this year, leaving Mr. Domina and Brujos coach Dustin Soflin as the only officials for seven matches, including the 80-minute collegiate game. Please remember to thank them the next time you see them.

The Santos kicked off their third match vs. the hosts and inside 15 seconds Eli had secured the ball and scored the first try untouched. On this occasion our kicker was so surprised he missed the easy conversion.

My notes for this match read “left wing” for SF’s second try so that must have been Bradford Cook for the second of his career. Santa Fe 12 – 0 inside five minutes.

Tadeo Herrera next wowed everyone with a long break to midfield, topping it off with a chip kick which he ran down before dishing off a neat pass. While not ending with a try, it was impressive play from a forward. Somewhere in here also that gleeful hooker Diego Cardiel called over to your reporter that he had stolen another scrum feed.

An Aardvark winger next touched down a try that went unconverted. Santos 12, Varks 5. Mateo Cardiel answered with another of his signature sidestep-sidestep-sprint-cutback-sprint tries covering three-quarters the length to make it 17-5, before our new friend Bradford Cook scooted for the third try of his day and career.

Final score: Santos 24 Aardvarks 5

CONCLUSION & THOUGHTS

The High Desert Classic has been on a verifiable downhill slide for over a decade, reflected in fewer teams, less ideal venues (the Santos won the 1982 championship at Dukes stadium, current home of the Isotopes baseball team) and the elimination of championship rounds on Sunday. This leaves a huge gap the famous High Desert Classic party used to fill in spectacular fashion. The High Dirt party was a phenomenon, held in a unique location almost every year (through necessity perhaps) and which always presented a fresh approach to fun, rugby style. Oh, the memories! of deeds and actors – fewer of them among us each year. I knew Saturday I would be reviving plenty of tales with lots of old teammates and once-fierce opponents, in the relative safety of the touchlines. Father Time is friendlier to some than others, but eventually we will all be mere memories.

What has brought on the change?

While many amateur rugby clubs worldwide have gone under for a lack of numbers, the remaining ones have subscribed to leagues whose schedules make timing a successful tournament very challenging. In Santa Fe we are fortunate to have staked out, many years ago, a holiday weekend folks can count on, but just as importantly, we have worked very hard to maintain a standard of competition and ambiance that makes teams want to return year after year. Like any successful garden, ours requires year-round maintenance.

Saturday’s experience offers a powerful example of what makes our club special. While the inability to field a full roster is important to note and improve upon, the welcoming heart of Los Santos brought in extra players when we needed them. It was downright heartwarming to see a captain or player take a moment on the touchline or even between plays to offer a less-experienced guest teammate a quick and friendly pointer. In one afternoon Los Santos transformed a group of relative strangers, some of them veritable rookies, into a team with a palpable will to compete, and win. Our coach, Richard Morris, deserves a heap of credit for instilling a team culture that allows this organic process to happen. Along the way we all grow.

Often good fortune is the result of conscious planning and collective effort. Everyone has something to contribute. Three cheers for All of Us!

This Saturday, October 12 the Santos travel to Socorro for a Southwest Union match against El Paso on the New Mexico Tech ground. The match is scheduled for a noon kickoff, with the undefeated Techies scheduled to play Colorado College at 2:00. Those on the fence about going down to support the club are reminded NMTRFC now has a bar right on the touchline . . . and the world-famous Capitol Bar (est 1889) is going strong!

2024 High Desert Classic roster

Ryan Weir, captain

Jeremy Lithgow

Diego Cardiel

Mateo Cardiel, co-captain

Dane Robergs

Tadeo Herrera

Calvin Smith

Dylan Merrigan

Justin Stallworth

Elijah Naranjo

Guests:

Bradford Cook, Alamogordo Nighthawks

Jaylon Colon, Alamogordo Nighthawks

Ryan Houlahan, Alamogordo Nighthawks

Kyle Bacho (unattached)

Jeremy Armstrong (unattached)

Preston Whyte

Santa Fe Rugby Football Club Schedule - Autumn 2024

Oct 5 High Desert Classic Albuquerque

Oct 12 El Paso Scorpions Socorro

Nov 2 New Mexico Brujos Vista del Norte Park Albuquerque

Nov 9 Atomic Sisters Invitational Albuquerque

Southwest Rugby Union competition will resume in early 2025.



PHOTOS:
eldrosphotography.pixieset.com/rugby2024-202