The Northern Colorado Flamingos soundly defeated the Glendale Raptors Saturday at the Wildwing pitch 49-19. In a very important division match, NoCoRugby made their season record 3-1-1, with the tie coming at the hands of the Denver Barbarians last week.
A cool windy day set the stage on a fast pitch. The Flamingos set the pace with a try from Jeff Brundage 14 minutes from the opening whistle and Tom Staab converted. Steve Robinson led the pack with a close support try in the 29th minute after the pack rumbled with the ball for 7 phases making the score 12-0. Inside center Bryan Hyland went into the try zone three phases after a lineout making the score 17-0 in the 33rd minute and unfortunately, was injured during the play. Glendale finally got into the books with a sneaky try by the flyhalf with three minutes left in the half and the flanker kicking the conversion making the score 17-7. Northern Colorado was having none of that and answered with a try by winger Drew Grigsby kicking the ball at the 10 meter line and outhustling the defense to dot the try in an excellent individual effort making the score 22-7 at the half..
With the wind in the Flamingos favor, they started the half slowly, but finally scoring resumed with a total team effort rolling down the pitch and Jeff Brundage touching the ball down for a try in the 49th minute making the score 27-7. At the restart, hooker Dan Sylvius took a short kick and ran unhampered for meters until the opposition wing slowed him till NoCo support came to rumble down the side with wing Todd Oswald running on the weak side for five points making the tally 32-7 with 31 minutes left in the match. After ten minutes of great defense and good effort NoCo again took the ball in multiple phase rucking and lineout mauling toward the try zone with wing Drew Grigsby finishing with another try, 37-7. at the 65 minute mark Nick O’connell ran for a scathing try from loose play after replacing injured no. 8 Dave Luedtke, with Craig Sherman kicking the conversion, 44-7. Glendale was not going to give up and scored a try and conversion with 10 left in the match, score 44-14. Jeff Brundage then scored his hat-trick try at the 72nd minute making the score 49-14. Glendale’s completed the scoring at the final whistle by their loose head prop making the end tally 49-19.
Northern Colorado Rugby captain summed the play up by saying, “You Flamingos are really in trouble now…. You showed me what you can do. YOU are in big trouble!” With Boulder next on the schedule and two more division matches this fall, the Flamingos have an interesting challenge ahead. Please come and support you Northern Colorado Rugby Flamingos!
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