The Water Dogs notched their first regular-season victory this weekend, bouncing back from two previous disappointments with a convincing win over rivals, the Denver Barbarians. In front of the many fans dotting the Infinity Park terraces, including a strong Colorado Rush contingent ahead of their afternoon match, the Water Dogs razzled and dazzled their way to a 42-17 win.
Still feeling the sting of a last-minute defeat when the two teams clashed three weeks ago, the Dogs took the pitch resolving to stretch the “top two inches” of their game as coaches Scotty Smith and Kevinn Mann had emphasized in the lead-up. After a tense first few minutes that saw play range from one end of the field to the other, but neither team able to convert, the Barbos eventually capitalized on penalty advantage from a scrum to chip-kick over the Dogs’ defensive line and create a try. They mounted a second attack off the restart and crept within three meters of another try when a phenomenal defensive effort from the Water Dogs pack stopped a Barbos maul dead, winning a turnover scrum. As fly-half Scotty Nies exited from this set piece he found himself viciously late-charged by a Barbos mercenary; play was interrupted briefly while several Water Dogs crowded around the offending player to politely inform him that they had found his actions inappropriate.The Dogs then punctuated this sentiment with two tries in quick succession from outside center Mo Vainikolo and fullback Jacob Goeppner respectively. Another try in response from the Barbos left the scoreline 14-12 in the Dogs’ favor as the halftime whistle blew.
The Barbarians’ kickoff to start the second half carried them deep into Water Dogs territory, but staunch defense won a turnover and the men in purple worked their way back up the field, eventually dispatching inside center Johnny Ryberg directly through a pair of would-be tacklers and over the try line. Loose forward Ben Prentner soon followed with a strong fend and dash over the line to finish, and then lock Dan Prochoda combined with reserve winger Sefo Selevasio for another score. The Barbos put a brief damper on the proceedings with another try of their own, but festivities resumed thereafter with another delightful duet from Prochoda and Selevasio to seal the match.
The 5-table-point victory launches the Water Dogs into a hot contest at the top of the RMR D2 ladder. Next week the Dogs will look to clear some elbow room in the standings with a repeat performance at Boulder.
Water Dogs XXIII
1. Zack Jessell
2. Rodney Cordova
3. Duncan Frost
4. Chris Wiessing (c)
5. Ben Prentner
6. Austin Dozier
7. Heath Ross
8. Jacob Russell
9. Trevor Wilder
10. Scott Nies
11. Jesse Adelberg
12. John Ryberg
13. Mo Vainikolo
14. George Bristow
15. Jacob Goeppner
16. Estevan Flores
17. Andrew Sroczynski
18. Dan Prochoda
19. James Fuller
20. Alex Fitch
21. Francis Goonan
22. Casey Miller
23. Sefo Selevasio
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