Your Northern Colorado Flamingos have accomplished the first step on the road to Austin, Texas, and the Western Territorial playoffs, by their convincing defeat of the Queen City Rugby Club, in Denver, 45 to 13. After handily defeating the Glendale Raptors and the Denver Harlequins beating the Colorado Springs Grizzlies, the week before, NoCo set the stage for their entry to new possibilities and rugby recognition. Returning to the Glendale venue to face QCRFC, the Flamingos knew they had to score four tries and hand QC a defeat to outpace the Grizzlies table 30 points to earn the Western spot in Austin. An 84 degree breezy day found NoCo recieving the kick from QC. The first quarter of the match NoCo was in their own half more than 75% of the time, battling bids for the tryline from the Queens. A penalty directly in front of the posts near the 20 min. mark gave QC the first three pointer. QC 3-0. Captain Sol Mascarenas implored his charges to pick up the pace and make better decisions. The request paid off as the pack rumbled down the pitch with determined pod rucking and mauling til the 27th minute when flanker Ryan ‘Harmsful’ picked the ball from the base of the ruck and rambles 30 meters to score the first try of the match. The kicker of the day, Mike ‘Bird’ Staab converted the try. NoCo 7 – QC 3. The restart proved productive as number 8, Sam ‘Whiteness’ Starlin caught the QC kick, broke 3 tackles on his ramble to the try line for a second Flamingo try just 2 minutes after the previous score. The converted try took the tally to Flamingos 14-3. With NoCo finally getting on the forward moving track, the backs advanced the ball with two territory grabbing attacks, winning the ball at the breakdown, and allowing the pack to pound the ball forward. Again, No. 7, ‘Harmsfull’ found himself in the try zone for an additional try two ticks later, which was converted. NoCo 21-3. The final and bonus point score for the pink birds, with 4 min. left in the half, was achieved by Dan Silvius when he took a pass from scrum half Jeff Brundage from the 10 meter mark and slipped in for the try, left unconverted. Flamingos 26 – 3. The Denver Rugby/Queen City boys proved they had fight in them when their big lock rumbled in from 20 meters at 39 minutes for an try, left unconverted. NoCo 26 – QC 8 During the break, coach Polzin gently reminded the Flamingos about the job they had to finish. A few strategies were figured, lots of water, and the flock was ready to go at it again. The first 12 minutes of the second stanza found the teams tugging at each other in the middle of the pitch until a scrum down was presented to NoCo 15 meters from the QC line. The backs called the perfect ploy that found center Chad ‘Grape Nuts’ Graepler dotting the try, which was converted. Flamingos 33 – 8. The next 14 ticks were entertained by numerous kicks for position with many probes by both clubs into opposition’s 22. In one such probe, scrum half Jeff Brundage picked the ball from a ruck and scampered to the try line for yet another score, which ws converted. NoCo 40 – 8 QC still had fight in them and to prove it just min. later the inside center plowed through 4 Flamingo vain attempts to stop him, to score another try, unconverted at 66 minutes. NoCo 40 – QC 13. At this juncture coach Polzin started strategically replacing Flamingos. Mike ‘New York’ Donato came in to replace no. 2 Silvius, Max Charbonneau replaced Vito Sunseri at center. Not to be outdone by hard QC determination, the Flamingos built on phase after phase of play in both the backs and forwards. Pressing the advantage, with 2 minutes left, NoCo let the ball out to the backs and ‘Bird’ Staab skipped two players to ‘Rasta’ Todd Oswalt, while fullback Drew Grigsby ran behind and Oswalt executed a perfect loop pass to put Grigsby into the try zone, left unconverted. Final Score: NoCo 45 – Queen City 13. Northen Colorado Rugby is pleased to announce their entrance to the Western Territorial playoff, with the first round to be held at Austin Rugby Club, Austin, TX. April 29 – May 1. Anyone wishing to attend is heartily invited. For travel info contact Jan Nansel at 970.308.2215 NoCo Scoring summary: Ryan Harms 2 tries 10 points Sam Starlin 1 t 5 p Dan Silvius 1 t 5 p Chad Graepler 1 t 5 p Jeff Brundage 1 t 5 p Drew Grigsby 1 t 5 p Mike Staab 5 conversions 10 p 5/7 attempts
