Santos Win 2, Lose 1 in Celtic Heat
Celtic 7’s Tournament
Albuquerque, NM
June 04, 2022 - DW
A slapdash Santa Fe side surprised themselves by winning two of three matches in the 2022 Celtic Sevens last Saturday, June 4. Having exactly seven Santos show up to play didn’t turn out to be the disaster one might suspect; in fact, we made some fine new friends. Several if not most teams entered in the tournament required auxiliary players (otherwise known as whores) to get through their brackets. But as we found out, even that time-honored strategy has its limits.
Los Santos got started at 9 am on Field One against tournament hosts Brujos. Our boys dominated field position through efficient rucking in the first half but couldn’t seem to get over the line. At least one sure-looking try went begging through “unselfish play” – a last unnecessary pass near the line. It was up to captain Ryan Weir to pin his ears back and beat two would-be tacklers to get over the line. Which he did. Somebody missed the mandated drop-kick conversion.
The Brujos converted their try (probably in either the first or second half) before hard-working SF irregular Kyle Grinold (alias Stitch) settled matters with our second try. Somebody’s brother, Someone, missed the drop-kick conversion but it was enough for a 10-7 Santos win.
Temperatures rose steadily into the nineties, but at least we were spared the winds that have tormented New Mexico all spring. The atmosphere was greatly added to with the happy return of the Rio Grande Valley Celtic Festival right next door. Tartaned dancers, sailing hay bales, tumbling cabers, bagpipe music, and of course a multitude of old friends-seldom-seen made this reporter feel at times like we’d all not been away for two years. Or was it three?
After a comprehensive 90-second warmup & stretch the boys were ready for their next test against a team simply named Las Cruces, apparently a mix of university and club players. Jaime Terrazas, NMT-bound in the fall, scored our first try, which Stitch converted. Ryan got his second but again someone missed the conversion. Again, Los Santos were out-rucking their opponents, moving the ball efficiently, and butchering the occasional opportunity. The Chiles/Black Hog/Aggies scored against the run of play and converted a try, 12-7.
That guy Stitch scored yet another try but missed the conversion before Jared Skillman scored on a lengthy effort, the conversion of which the third brother, Sin Nombre, missed. LC got the last say but lost, 22-14.
On the subject of rugby courtesans, Santa Fe also benefited from the play of Frank, like Stitch, a member of the Aardvarks, and St. Pius High standout Cian Jones, bound for New Mexico Tech next fall on one of two of their rugby scholarships. Young Mr. Jones scored nine points for us on a try and two conversions, wearing the reporter’s red shorts. Cian’s dad told me between matches that Tech’s national small college sevens championship-winning coach, Gearoid Dunbar, is moving on to a new challenge at a college in Virginia.
Next up was a team of former UNM players self-billed as the GOATS (greatest of all time). What-EVER! To their credit the opposition played a sound brand and had beaten their previous opponents handily. A spirited, back-and-forth match ensued, the details of which I couldn’t jot down due to being called to run a touchline. I suppose I could use my memory – but no.
I do recall being impressed by the Santos’ liveliness and determination. Apparently, everyone had been training diligently at home. In the end we lost a close one, 29-26, a decent showing considering the lack of group rehearsals.
Returning thankfully to the shade of Jeremy’s canopy, no one seemed convincingly upset when word came that chronic shortages among most teams meant the guys had played their last game. From across the green expanse, the beer tent beckoned. Sudden word that a fourth match remained to be played turned out to be a hoax, and everyone disappeared to the oasis. Except for loose forward Jason Osborn, who soon ran out in the time-honored role discussed earlier. The man loves his rugby.
I stuck around Pitch One to watch the championship, Aardvarks vs. GOATS. A tight contest, with each team showing their scoring capabilities. Just before halftime, an Aardvark player looked certain to score but was cut down from behind by the diving tackle of a defender wearing red shorts. You guessed it, Jason Osborn. Good on ya, lad!
Representing Los Santos:
Jared Skillman
Dylan Merrigan
Jason Osborn
Jeremy Lithgow
Angel Villa
Jaime Terrazas
Ryan Weir (Captain)
Richard Morris (Coach)
