High-Altitude Heartbreak: Dogs Denied in Wagner Field Classic

As the Dogs descended on Aspen from the snowy conditions of Independence Pass, there was an exciting anticipation before the match. Aspen had dispatched Park City the previous weekend, preventing Haggis from claiming any bonus points, while the River Hounds took down the Men in Green with a come-from-behind victory. Whoever emerged on top here would sit as early leaders in the Rocky Mountain Premiership. Despite the chill on the pass, kickoff at downtown Aspen’s Wagner Field brought perfect conditions: 60 and sunny.

From the first whistle, Aspen cleared but kicked out on the full. The ref gave advantage for a knock – the first of many questionable calls on the day. A penalty at scrum time went to the home side, but a knock-on at the ensuing lineout gave the Purple Canines an attacking scrum at midfield. Staying true to the day’s theme, the Dogs sent big inside center Johnny Ryberg over the gainline on his first of many carries. With John’s return, last week’s Man of the Match Andrew Wulf slid to outside center, creating a deadly midfield combination. Two phases later, quick hands spun wide freed Martini Talapusi to put Sefo Selavasio down the right wing. He broke inside the 22, and after two offloads it looked like the Dogs had scored first – until the touch judge flagged a foot in touch.

Sefo Selevasio was a constant threat in attack, setting up a few scores and scoring two of his own. His performance earned him Man of the Match for the day.

Aspen cleared their lines and stole a midfield lineout, giving them early territory in the Dogs’ half. But the game quickly turned into a battle of field position, with both sides testing defenses through kicks and bursts of running.

From a midfield scrum, standoff Kilfoyle kicked into the corner. Aspen tried to clear, but after a tap back the Dogs gathered from an onside position. Despite that, the ref whistled an “offside” penalty, a dubious call with the Denver player clearly onside.

Nevertheless, Aspen fly-half Joshua Cox (former UCLA Bruin and recent MLR draft pick) cleared to set his side up around the Dogs’ 22. From there, the Gents executed a sharp peel play, putting open-side flanker Cliff Kindred into the corner for the opening try. Captain, lock, and kicker Chris Campbell nailed the tough conversion for 7–0 to the home side.

Off the kickoff, Aspen cleared again, and Dogs captain Martini was unlucky to have his kick sail out on the full. From the lineout, Aspen built four phases before a knock-on handed the ball to Denver. Kilfoyle scooped and broke, offloading to flanker James Loehr, who carried hard. On the edge, Kilfoyle threw a skip to Sefo, who burst down the right touchline, offloaded to Tini, and finished a simple two-on-one for Kilfoyle to score. He converted to tie it 7–7, a quarter of the match gone.

Aspen bounced back, regathering their kickoff and keeping phases tight before Cox broke a couple of tackles to score under the posts. Campbell converted, 14–7 to the Gents.

The next ten minutes were back-and-forth. Dogs earned penalties for territory but struggled in the lineout, where Aspen consistently disrupted. Then, just outside Denver’s 22, Cox slung a wide ball – only for it to go wayward into Sefo’s hands. The winger didn’t need a second invitation, racing the length for the equalizer. Kilfoyle converted, 14–14.

Aspen shrugged it off, winning the restart and forcing a Dogs penalty at the breakdown. Cox kicked to the corner, and after multiple lineout drives and pick-and-goes, Martin Grandon scooped from a vacant ruck guard position to score. Campbell missed, 19–14 Gents.

After another stolen lineout, Aspen’s scrum-half Josh Pope tossed a loose pass, gifting Denver a penalty and lineout chance. This time the steal didn’t come, and prop Duncan Frost pounced on a bobbled throw to rumble toward the line. Lock Peter Kennedy followed, channeling his inner Gumbi, wriggling through tackles and stretching his arm like Go-Go Gadget to score before halftime. Kilfoyle nailed the conversion to send the Dogs into the break up 21–19.

The second half opened with Aspen applying pressure through multiple phases. A clever chip from Pope pinned Denver deep, forcing a lineout just inside their 22 – smart, given Aspen’s dominance at that set piece. But Denver earned a penalty and cleared their lines.

A wayward Kilfoyle pass then put the Dogs under pressure, giving Aspen a scrum on the 22. A knock-on spared Denver, and Kilfoyle booted clear after Jacob “Expo” Goeppner gathered well. Another penalty gave Denver field position, but a bobble between props Frost and Jace Jackson turned the ball over.

Both sides traded territory until Aspen’s reserve flanker broke free, Pope scooped a loose ball, and skipped past two tacklers to score in the corner. Campbell missed the extras, 24–21.

Soon after, Cox nailed another pinpoint touch-finder. From rolling mauls, Kindred dotted down for his brace. Campbell converted, and Aspen held a 31–21 cushion.

With about twelve minutes left, Coach Mose Timoteo rang the changes, bringing on fresh halfbacks and props. The Dogs weren’t done. From a midfield scrum, new standoff Scott Nies called a clever weak-side move, springing Tini down the left. A few phases later, Nies popped inside to Ryberg, who burst into the 22. Quick ball to Wulf, then wide to Sefo, and the winger finished for his brace. Conversion missed from the sideline, 31–26 entering the final ten.

Rodney Cordova peels away from the back of a strong Dogs maul.

Aspen pressed again deep, but a Dogs penalty at the breakdown let Wulf unleash his booming left boot to flip the field. He nearly struck again with a skip pass to Expo, though the chance fizzled with another lost lineout.

With time running down, Denver, through the direction of Nies, pieced together seven phases, Expo slicing through before linking with Diego Rao, who finished in the corner for his first try as a Water Dog. Tini’s conversion struck well but sailed just left. Tied at 31 with less than a minute remaining.

From the kickoff, Denver earned a scrum inside their half. Not content with a draw, they spread it wide, but a knock-on and a dubious penalty at the breakdown gifted Aspen’s Campbell a simple shot at goal. The lock slotted it, sealing a 34–31 Gent’s win in a hotly contested match.

It was heartbreak for the Dogs at the death, but they’ll have a chance to regroup and prepare for Park City on September 27th. Meanwhile, Aspen hosts their annual Ruggerfest, aiming to defend their home crown.

Standouts for the Dogs included openside flanker James Fuller, a consistent tackler and defensive workhorse, and prop Duncan Frost, a force in both attack and defense, looking sharp heading into the heart of the season.

Next up: come out and support the Dogs at Infinity Park Turf Field at 3 p.m. against Park City, who sit just behind Denver in the standings after Haggis put the sword to the Denver Barbarians in Salt Lake City.

Photos: John Lightfoot