The Water Dogs routed Boulder in a 66-5 blowout on Saturday at Infinity Park. Feeling fresh in their brand new light-color kits, the Denver men racked up a point differential that could prove clutch should the league standings come down to tie-breaks.
The Boulder defense held firm for the first 15 minutes of the match before the floodgates opened for five tries from four individual Water Dogs – one each for Johnny Ryberg, Heath Ross, and Austin Dozier, and a brace for Jacob Goeppner – before the half. It seemed every Water Dog on the pitch managed a highlight reel clip: a line break for the glorious giraffe Andrew “Shazza” Scroczynski, a bone-rattling tackle by left wing Sam Patterson, and prop Duncan Frost showing some passes so deft that he risks getting bumped from front row to fly-half if he keeps up with it. The Dogs’ defense remained sharp as well, demonstrating improvements in organization and off-the-ball work rate that have been a focus throughout the season.
The comfortable 33-0 halftime lead enabled Water Dogs coaches Scotty Smith and Kevin Mann to empty the bench throughout the second half to lessen the load on regular starters and give reserves a chance to make their cases. Although last time the two teams clashed the Water Dogs bench proved shakier than hoped, this time the substitutes kept up every bit of momentum.
Flanker Heath Ross got his second try of the day minutes into the half, and his fellow back-row Ben Prentner followed with one of his own moments later. The relentless Water Dogs pressure appeared to eat away at the Boulder men’s discipline, earning one of their players a yellow card for backchat around the 55th minute, though Water Dogs left wing Sam Patterson also saw a yellow a few minutes later for a knock-on that was deemed deliberate.
Even with Patterson in the sin bin, the Water Dogs kept their foot on the gas. Skipper Chris Wiessing notched his first try of the season, waiting patiently in his channel out wide to finish an overlap. Substitute hooker Steve-O Flores looked close to achieving liftoff after breaking the line and setting off on a 45-meter run that set up a try for center Mo Vainikolo. The Boulder men managed one try of their own from a moment of disorganization among the Dogs’ defense after a string of penalties, but the match ended on a high note for the Denver side when first-time Water Dog Kelsey Harper burst out for a try on his debut.
The Water Dogs could not have hoped for a better outcome ahead of a bye week and then the final two matches of the regular season. Though the rest next weekend will be appreciated after four consecutive match weeks, team leadership emphasized the work left to do to close the three-table-point gap with Aspen, and the Denver side will be keeping intensity high in training to get there. With sexy new kits, a deep and talented squad, and many early-season struggles finally clicking, the Water Dogs are ready to fight tooth and claw for the RMR D2 title.
Water Dogs XXIII
Jace Jackson
Rodney Cordova
Duncan Frost
Chris Wiessing (c)
Andrew Scroczynski
Austin Dozier
Heath Ross
Ben Prentner
Tyler Ingram
Scott Nies
Sam Patterson
John Ryberg
Juta Vakabuta
Casey Miller
Jacob Goeppner
Apisolome Rokobaro
Estevan Flores
James Fuller
Liam Peck
Francis Goonan
Zach Clark
Mo Vainikolo
Kelsey Harper
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