Santos Show Character in Socorro
October 12, 2024 -DW
Opening Disclaimer – Your humble reporter was on separate assignment Saturday (New York vs. Kuala Lumpur roller derby) so this account relies on the cooperation of Coach Richard Morris, board member Briana Rodriguez, and David Jondreau, who by good fortune was seen sipping coffee at Java Joe’s on Sunday afternoon. Thanks to the team for making this insiders’ report possible!
The Santos traveled to Socorro for a prearranged meeting with El Paso’s always-dangerous Scorpions on Saturday, Oct 12. Our gents eventually came away with a 40-24 win, but not without the full dose of elbow grease and nail-biting a good rugby match demands.
The above-mentioned Mr. Jondreau reported it was “a little hot” at kickoff in the Garden Spot of Central New Mexico, a description that transformed to “pretty hot” before he finished his testimony.
Saturday was an “all hands” day as the Santos traveled a bit light in terms of second-half subs (details below).
Here are the match stats, provided separately by Coach Richard and Briana Rodriguez, better half of Angel Villa. To allow your imagination to fill in the visual details, we suggest you read the remainder of this report with your eyes closed. Wait.
Scoring account by minute of play:
10:00 Isaiah Sanchez, try SF
Milaan Van Wyk, conversion SF 7 EP 0
14:00 R.G. Snyman, try EP
Jonny Wilkinson, conv SF 7 EP 7
30:00 D Gabriel Cardiel, try SF
Milaan Van Wyk, conv SF 14 EP 7
HALFTIME – SF 14 EP 7
46:00 Milaan Van Wyk, try SF
MVW, conversion SF 21 EP 7
50:00 James Lowe, try EP
Not converted SF 21 EP 12
52:00 Milaan Van Wyk, try SF
Off the post SF 26 EP 12
65:00 Agustín Creevy, try EP
Andrew Mehrtens, conversion SF 26 EP 19
67:00 Serge Blanco, try EP
Not converted SF 26 EP 24
Sometime around this point, the Scorps decided they’d had enough of losing to Los Santos, and mounted a fierce and sustained attack on our line. One could be forgiven for flashing back to that day in Las Vegas when the Santos put up a valiant fight at the death, only to allow a heartbreaking score . . . Not this time!
72:00 Arvin Hrushka, try SF
MVW conversion SF 33 EP 24
79+ Arvin Hrushka, try SF
MVW conversion SF 40 EP 24
SCRAPS:
- Friday’s list of declared available players on the team’s real-time communication channel worked a charm. Seeing the minimum number of players on the potential roster coaxed both Jared Skillman and Dave Jondreau back into the limelight. A tip of the scrum cap to these loyal and fun-loving gentlemen!
- You may have noticed a new name on the scoresheet. Arvin Hrushka – who’s that?
A witness described Mr. Hrushka as “about 6 foot 5, says he’s a wing.” Arvin started the match in the second row but to his credit scored both his strategically-timed tries from the wing position.
- Our captain Ryan Weir may have set a record for time elapsed in convincing a referee to change his call. Seems the 31st man mistakenly ruled an advantage to Santos had elapsed when in fact a subsequent misplaced kick should have activated the penalty to our team. “Sir” deserves respect for seeing the light, as do El Paso’s old heads for reluctantly agreeing to the adjustment.
- It’s good to see Milaan Van Wyk’s name back on the roster for the first time this fall. Milaan, who earned his boots in Namibia, is helping NMT coach Jason Oliphant while polishing his master’s degree.
This fall’s remaining matches:
Nov 2 New Mexico Brujos Vista del Norte Park Albuquerque
Nov 9 Atomic Sisters Invitational Albuquerque
Anasazi – start thinking about a Railrunner shuttle for November 2!
ROSTER v El Paso Scorpions
Tadeo Herrera
Ryan Weir, capt
KC Martin
Calvin Smith
Isaiah Sanchez
Diego “Gabe” Cardiel
Jeremy Lithgow
Rainer Ball
Angel Villa
Mateo Cardiel, vice capt
Dylan Merrigan
Jared Skillman
Milaan Van Wyk
Justin Stallworth
Arvin Hrushka
David Jondreau
Jason Osborn (17)
