November 20- Arizona closed out their most packed Fall semester in recent years with a trip to Houston to take on Texas A&M with much to play for as they continue to build.

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The Wildcats, fresh off last year's top 12 finish in both fifteens and sevens, have taken a fifteens-only approach to Fall as they look to move up the ranks. Texas A&M, last year's Red River Conference champions, would serve as the final test of the Fall that has seen the team win seven of eight, with the lone loss being a freshmen-sophomore friendly. 

 

Rugby on the road has a way of leveling the playing field, and this was on full display as it was Texas A&M who had the bulk of the early possession, getting close to the Wildcats' 22 only to be turned away by stout defense. A penalty and a resulting lineout would give Arizona an early opportunity that they would convert with Hooker Cameron Blair touching down five minutes in to make it it 5-0. Turnover ball was the theme of the first half, with Wing Antonio Gonzalez and Scrumhalf George O'Brien each scoring outstanding tries and a penalty try on a Gonzalez run making it 22-0 in the 33rd minute. Just before the break the Wildcats would work their way into the Aggies' half, scoring on a maul with Blair again to make it 29-0. At halftime, the slow build of the Wildcats' attack was the point of emphasis, with some lineup tweaks and new combinations taking time to gel.

 

One of those lineup changes would help open the floodgates and start to put the game out of reach as a great support line from Center Gustave Martinez made it 36-0 early on and putting the visitors into a commanding lead. One of the highlights of the day was delivered by the hometown center Mattox King as the Junior from Woodlands, Texas scored on a long line break to make it 43-0. Two more Blair tries to give him four on the day along with a second score from Gonzalez and the first career try from Lock Aidan Hendry would seal the 40 point second half outburst and push their record to 8-1 on the year. Arizona Second XV would also continue their strong form with a 33-18 victory over Texas A&M Second XV led by tries by Kent Gamble, Jackson Kutcher, Joey Lewis, Aiden Kemp, and Tanner DeMassa. 

 

The 9-1 record flatters the Wildcats but they know the hardest work is yet to come. "Thankful to Texas A&M for organizing two great matches and the site, we wish them the best of luck this coming season. We're happy to be where we are but even happier to have a lot of really valuable minutes under our belt that we feel will help prepare us better for our challenging schedule this Spring. I am proud of our overall effort, even if I felt we were a little uneven to start on Saturday. We found our stride a bit late in the half and our leaders in the side really took the reins in upping the energy. We have work to do but we have a culture that you need to evolve each year to keep things fresh that will set us up really well for what's coming after the holidays" said Director of Rugby Sean Duffy.

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For the Wildcats full schedule click here.
 

SCORING vs TEXAS A&M
Tries: 11- Blair (4), Gonzalez (2), O'Brien, Martinez, King, Hendry, penalty try

Conversions: Berenger- 4/5, Martin- 2/3, Champion- 0/2

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1st XV vs TEXAS A&M

1. Seamus McCarthy

2. Cameron Blair

3. Dalton Slaughter

4. Aidan Hendry

5. Harry Hobson

6. Jack Brown- C

7. Abe Turpen

8. Jack Bresland

9. George O'Brien

10. Ted Champion

11. Antonio Gonzalez

12. Gustave Martinez

13. Mattox King

14. Jacob Broselle- VC

15. Matteo Berenger

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16- Aidan McCarthy

17- Caeden Chase

18- Pacific Smiley

19- Andreas Andersson

20- CJ De Vault

21- Will Rohrsheim

22- Gustave Martinez

23- Gerard Martin

24- Seth Catchpole

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2nd XV vs TEXAS A&M

1. Joey Lewis

2. Aidan McCarthy

3. Liam Swanson

4. Jacob Jaffe

5. Charles Williams

6. Kent Gamble

7. Troy Norman

8. Aiden Kemp

9. Blake Liddell

10. Seth Catchpole

11. Jude Beatty

12. Mike McWilliams

13. Thomas Figley

14. Jackson Kutcher

15. Connor McCormick

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16. Logan Able

17. Lucas Holton

18. Will Berney

19. Tanner DeMassa

20. Logan Franke

21. Andrew Newell

22. PJ Enegren

23. Daniel Lopez

24. Otto Hirstius