The Junior Gents traveled to Denver last weekend hoping to close out their rugby fifteens season in the fashion with which they had become accustomed. By winning their final game they were able to put to rest feelings of unfinished business. Traveling to Denver for the third time in four weeks the Junior Gents were able to field sixteen players with very short notice as the Grand Junction Jr Griffins were unable muster the players and finances to challenge for the state championship third place playoff game. The Junior Gents combined with eight players from the crowned third place recipients Highlands Ranch Harlequins.
The fast paced game began with the Juniors showing some intense and rugged defense forcing the Northside Dragons to knock on resulting in a center field scrum on the thirty five meter line. A well-executed right side movement initiated by the Gents number 8 Robert Hiles passing to the flyhalf Jake Gentry who took the ball at pace while using a deft fake pass to inside center Danny Gomez and splitting the defense to run to the line and score untouched. With the Gents feeling in control of the match, replacements, including Highlands Ranch forward Branden Brenning were made, allowed Hiles to move to the centers a position which he will be taking up this fall at the University of Central Washington. The first half finished with the score level at five points each after the Dragons were able to score a try in the closing stages.
The second half began as an evenly matched affair until the acting number eight Brenning broke through the middle and scored between the posts allowing for an easy conversion by Hiles. This score of 12-5 would hold up until the final whistle.
Standout players for the “Gents/Quins” were Luke Prosence, Hiles, Brenning, Marston and Gentry and were ably assisted by Gomes, Morgan and Wampler as well as the courageous Nick Handle who returned to the field and completed the game after suffering a groin injury.
The Junior Gents were able to get a jumpstart on the upcoming sevens season by competing in three, seven minute periods of play against the Dragons. The Junior Gents were able to prevail through notable contributions from the Gents Keenan McIntyre, Danny Gomez and Noe Camerena.
The Junior Gents will be competing next in the Denver Sevens, Saturday, June 27th at Dicks Sporting Goods Park in Denver.