Northern Colorado Rugby Club defeated Denver’s Queen City Rugby Club Saturday with a convincing score of 42 to 28. After a warm-up ERRFU tourney the week before, NoCo Rugby was eager to show local fans and supporters what to expect in the upcoming year. Open play support was very vigorous and dominating from the start whistle.
Flyhalf, Tom Staab opened the scoring with a penalty kick in the 12th minute of play with Chad Grappler following close behind with a try in the 15th minute. Two penalty kicks by Queen City kept the score at 8-6 Captain and flanker, Sol Mascarenas completed excellent rucking and mauling by the entire 15 with a try in the 20th minute and Tom Staab made the conversion. Not to be outdone, flanker Harms ran thru heavy opposition, dished to scrum half Jeff Brundage, supported the play and got the ball back to run in for another five points with Staab making the conversion. Queen City made another penalty goal at the 35 minute mark. Drew Grigsby finished with a long run for a try just befor the half whistle making the score 27-9.
Queen City came back after the half determined to put more points on the board with a try by their outside center five minutes into the second stanza, with their prop excecuting a long run for another try shortly after and a conversion. Northern Colorado realized they took their foot off the gas and got back into the scoring with a try by fullback Sherman in the 57th minute. Queen City answered with a try in the 61st minute by their number 8. Jeff Brundage broke for a good gain in stiff defense and after supporting play ended with a 5 pointer. Queen City was still down, but not out with a penalty goal at the 68th minute mark. Dave Luedtke sealed the win with a rousing try after great forward control and rucking in the 77th minute.