Nov 4- Much has changed for the Arizona in the last 12 months, but none has more impact than the decision made by the program to pursue fifteens year-round. This past weekend's matches in Colorado and those last weekend against Arizona State have given the Wildcats four matches, with over 50 different athletes getting valuable minutes that they otherwise would not have gotten in prior seasons or in sevens competitions.

 

"Teams in the US are growing, but it's really simple. They need more matches. Everything else besides that is really secondary if you boil this down" said Director of Rugby Sean Duffy. If Saturday's results are any indication, Arizona's decision is paying off, with the Wildcats using a rotated player pool against an undefeated Colorado State side.

 

On the road and in chillier conditions than sunny Tucson, the Wildcats would continue their theme of strong starts, as Antonio Gonzalez broke the line and found Jacob Hall in support to make it 7-0 in the seventh minute. Gonzalez and Hall would connect again, this time with the Scrumhalf finding his winger on the right side on a cutout pass to make it 12-0. Gonzalez would put together a tremendous first half, with a hat trick to go along with the try assist in just the first 40 minutes, including a long-range counterattack try set up by a chip kick from Fullback Matteo Berenger. Up 31-7 at the break, the focus for the Wildcats was continuing to build continuity in attack and defense. That defense would play a key role in the second half, with Arizona shutting out the Rams thanks to off the bench contributions by players such as Henry Langrish, Isaac Morrill, and Aston Gradwick-Light. Langrish would be the beneficiary of some well-worked forward play deep in the corner to make it 38-7 before a long-range Berenger try in the 79th sealed the 45-7 victory to keep the undefeated record intact.

 

Not to be outdone, Arizona 2nd XV continued the form that has many in and around the program excited for the future. Led by four tries from first-year Wing Nick Morgan and standout performances by Number Eight Sean McNulty, Flyhalf Lucas Smith, and Center Tom Manning amongst others, the Wildcats raced out to an early lead and secured the 88-0 victory over Colorado State 2nd XV.

 

"We're first off thankful to CSU, they continue to be great partners on and off field and we look forward to continuing the series. We view today as two important wins, with several guys in both games putting their hands up through their play, some of them filling in as we work to spread out our minutes a bit and rest some with an eye on future matches. Seeing our wings like Antonio Gonzalez and Nick Morgan get to be the beneficiaries of great team play and play so well is a sign that we're sharing the ball and we have some real potential on the outside. Seeing our lineout work well is a testament to the work of the tight five guys, especially our hookers Cameron Blair, Aston Gradwick-Light, Tucker Johnstone, and Aidan McCarthy who all really focus on their craft. Seeing our scrumhalves like Jacob Hall, Lucas Smith, and Connor McIsaac all play really well is a reward for the work those three and our other 9s put in. Whether it's two months or two years from now, everyone will be called on in some capacity. These guys are getting that" said Duffy.

 

Arizona will play their final home match of the Fall this Saturday against University of San Diego with a 1 PM kickoff at Sitton Field.

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For the Wildcats full Fall schedule, click here.

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1st XV vs Colorado State

W 45-7

Tries: Gonzalez (3), Hall, Kemp, Langrish, Berenger

Conv: Berenger- 5/7

1- Seamus McCarthy

2- Cameron Blair- C

3- Dalton Slaughter

4- Jacob Jaffe

5- Aidan Hendry

6- Tanner DeMassa

7- Troy Norman

8- Aiden Kemp

9- Jacob Hall

10- Ted Champion

11- Van Hampton

12- Sintu Mjali

13- Mattox King

14- Antonio Gonzalez

15- Matteo Berenger- VC

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16- Aston Gradwick-Light

17- Liam Swanson

18- Isaac Morrill

19- Pacific Smiley

20- Henry Langrish

21- Saxon Gerstl

22- Charley Redknapp

23- Emmanuel Magutakuona

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2nd XV vs Colorado State 2nd XV

W 88-0

Tries: Morgan (4), Smith (2), Johnstone, McNulty, Williams, Kliavkoff, Lopez, Johnson, Holton, A. McCarthy

Conv: Manning- 9/11, Catchpole- 0/2

1- Logan Able

2- Tucker Johnstone- C

3- Marcus Harris

4- Chuck Williams

5- Joey Lewis

6- Braedon Butte

7- Damir Kulnazarov

8- Sean McNulty

9- Lucas Smith

10- Will Rohrsheim

11- Nick Morgan

12- Tom Manning

13- PJ Enegren

14- Jackson Kutcher- VC

15- Seth Catchpole

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16- Aidan McCarthy

17- Dominic Zapata

18- Lucas Holton

19- Henry Kliavkoff

20- Max Tenery

21- Connor McIsaac

22- Brody Johnson

23- Danny Lopez

24- Kieran Quinn

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