September 18, 2016
Western State Men’s Rugby Beats Colorado School of Mines
Photo: Western State Rugby
Doug Coil
Western State Colorado University Men’s Rugby Club traveled to play the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado on Saturday, September 17th and emerged with a key 34-28 Division II win in the Rocky Mountain Rugby Union.
It took nine minutes before Western State’s eightman, Greyson Lincoln took a quick tap off a Mines penalty for a try, which was then converted for a 7-0 lead. Five minutes later Mines found a gap though the backs and went in for a converted try to tie the match.
Greyson Lincoln added another try that was converted and Western took a 14-7 lead, a lead that they would not relinquish. Nate Ferguson gathered a loose ball for a try and the lead was 19-7 at halftime.
Early in the second half, Tony Gersick added another Western try after Blayze Liilii stole the ball from a Mines lineout. Mines then narrowed the lead to 24-14 with a try and conversion of their own.
Just three minutes later, Western struck back as Greyson Lincoln went in for a hat trick try and a 29-14 lead. The match then went back and forth until Mines ran in another converted try ten minutes later. It was now 29-21.
Western then capitalized on taking a Mines scrum and Greyson Lincoln had a long break before offloading to Blayze Liilii for a try and a 34-21 lead with 11 minutes remaining.
With two minutes remaining in the match, Mines added a fourth converted try, but it was a little too late as Western State earned a 34-28 win against Colorado School of Mines.
With the win Western State is now 2-0 in League play. Air Force B has a 2-1 record with their lone loss to Mines in their first match 41-17. Mines suffered their first loss, but is still in first place with a 3-1 record.
Next Saturday, Colorado School of Mines travels to Colorado Mesa University while Western State returns to League action at home on October 1 against Air Force B.
