By, Kai Beech

Special to Aspen Daily News

The Gentlemen of Aspen Rugby Club advanced to the USA Rugby Men’s Club Championship semifinals as it racked up a pair of convincing wins this past weekend in Austin, Texas.
In the opening round against the Provo, Utah Steelers, the Gents used a smothering defense and came away with a 25-5 win.

Aspen wing Andre Nichols broke a scoreless stalemate 15 minutes into the second half with a 30-meter try. Moments later, teammate Mike Hurley capitalized on a Steelers turnover and scored out wide–putting the Gents up 10-0.

“I think we showed a fair amount of composure. Early on there was no opportunities either way, but we didn’t force the issue,” said Aspen coach Freddy Waititi. “We showed patience, played solid defense and once we scored, we scored almost immediate again. That was what really hurt (Provo).”

In the 68th minute, Aspen flyhalf Isaac Mbereko penetrated Provo’s defensive line with a fake pass in which he unloaded to teammate Merritt Johnson who in turn found the gap and dotted down a try untouched. On the Gents’ ensuing offensive possession, scrumhalf Greg Tarpey capitalized on a long Aspen maul and snuck around the breakdown for the team’s final score as time expired.

Aspen kicker Spencer Scott, the reigning Ruggerfest MVP, made 1-of-4 conversions and a penalty kick.
Despite the quick-scoring offense and lopsided score, Waititi said it was Aspen’s consistent defensive pressure that made the difference.

“It was the defense that frustrated (Provo),” Waititi said. “The times they attacked us there was no way through. We just keep knocking them over. Our defense was what won it.”
The Gents carried their strong defensive mind set into the next round against Los Angeles Rugby Club, defeating the Southern California team 15-7 in a mud bowl of a match.
Aspen’s offense found the tryzone much earlier in this match as Mbereko plowed through several would-be defenders and scored a try 20 minutes into the first half.

Will Martin added a try 10 minutes later, giving the Gents a 10-0 heading into halftime.
On the second-half kickoff, center Brian Dalrymple flattened the L.A. ball carrier causing a turnover. Aspen’s Johnson recovered the ball, chip kicked the it over the L.A. defense and recovered it in the tryzone for 15-0 advantage. L.A. mounted a comeback late in the match but it was not enough as the Aspen defense remained strong and held on for the win.

“We made some big tackles late in the game,” Waititi said of L.A. match. “Our offense played off our defense. We were able to cause some turnovers and put some phases together that resulted in solid attacks.”

With win, Aspen to advances to the national semifinals for the first time in six years where it will face the Atlanta Renegades at Glendale’s Infiniti Park on Saturday, May 30 with at 4 p.m.
Waititi credits this season’s success to the blue-collar work ethic of the players.

“Aspen used to be the best team money could buy,” he said, referring to the club’s glory days in which it won a record-setting seven Super League championships. “Now we got the misfits from across the States and guys from Vail and Steamboat that no one thought had a chance. They way we’ve had to fight to get through this season…it’s really brought us together. No one can doubt the commit we have. We did this with a bunch of guys willing to work for each other and we earned an opportunity to compete for a national championship.”