In a pulsating encounter between the RA Nelson sponsored Junior Gents and the Highlands Ranch Harlequins, the Roaring Fork Valley team lost 22-20 on the last play of the game with an outstanding kick by the Harlequins.
Both teams shoveled snow off the field for an hour before kickoff and conditions were not favorable for the free flowing running style of the Juniors and it showed when the Harlequins scored within 2 minutes of the start. The Gents’ captain, Jake Gentry took matters into his own hands and broke through the big Harlequins defenders time and time again and finally forced a penalty which Robert Hiles converted to make the score 5-3 in favor of the Harlequins.
The big Harlequins team ran straight and hard to score again asking questions of the Aspen defense, to go up 10-3. The Aspen scrum took over after the Harlequins’ score with the front row of Luke Prosence, Erik Mesa and particularly Cristian Gonzalez starting to control the game. With Gonzalez powering from the base of the scrum, taking 3 to 4 defenders with him, and Hiles imperious in the line out, The Junior Gents started to dictate the game.
Gentry inevitably crossed for a try, which Hiles converted and then added a penalty for good measure. The Juniors led 13-10 at the half, but tellingly failed to convert pressure into points at the end of the half in the sloppy conditions.
The beginning of the second half saw Aspen soaking up a lot of pressure before Jake Ferlisi, on his debut, combined with the game’s outstanding player, Gonzalez, sending him rumbling over from 30 yards. Hiles converted and ahead at 20-10 with 10 minutes left, the Junior Gents should have closed this one out. As the young Juniors amass more game experience they will learn how to finish teams off.
Nick Morgan had a great run before being replaced and Nick Hanle, another player on debut, was shifty and quick making breaks and avoiding tackles by the larger Harlequins side. The break of the game came from a counter attack by Noe Camarena who linked with Hanle, the free running Hiles and the Two Shane’s, Cleveringa and Wright. It looked like it would be impossible to run and pass in such windy and wet conditions as this, but the team work showed great promise for the future and next weeks home game at Willits Rugby Field in Basalt.
However this game belonged to the Harlequins captain who kicked a conversion from the corner to seal victory after the Gents leaked 2 tries in the final 5 minutes.
Coach Cameron McIntyre will be running his charges through their drills on Tuesday and Thursday at 430pm at The Willits Field in Basalt and the Junior Gents take on Pike Peak at 1.00pm