Denver East High Angels v North Colorado Springs Falcons
On a splendid RugbyDay with temperatures pushing 70°, relatively clear skies and a freshening breeze, Angels and Falcons match featured the kick-chase and its contretemps, the cover-counter, as well as fluid, well-constructed, ground attacks aided and abetted by a bit of fortune, both good and bad, for a high-scoring duel between the first division XVs.
East regained possession post-kickoff at the NCOS ten meter line and half dozen banging phases on, tighthead prop Matias Rosenburg-Favetto smashed through tackle at the goaline, twisted and touched down for conversion by fullback Eli Zsemlye and it was 7-nil to the home side early on.
A three-point penalty conversion by travelers 10, Troy Heroldt, and Falcons were on the board and the scoreline, 7-3 then.
Denver struck back on a sticksplitter by Zsemlye and tallies at 10 and 3 midway through the half.
East, eager at the breakdown, were assessed several penalties while seeking turnover at tackle, but Colorado Springs were unable to effectively exploit the advantages on offer as Denver’s midfield was staunch and solid in defense.
Rosenburg-Favretto’s offload while tackled sprung outside center, Cole Conforti, to space and a swift, 30-meter transit to goal for the 13’s grounding and subsequent plus-two by Zsemlye and 17-3 for homeboys with the midpoint in the match looming.
A period of action between the 10-meter lines saw ground gains by each before ceding possession due handling errors.
East counted again when Rosenburg-Favretto powered into space near touch before releasing flyer, Jack Dempsey, who outpaced the chase for 20 meters into goal and touch down. Zsemlye’s additional deuce made it 24-3
NCOS midfield was unable to maintain possession and Denver benefitted greatly from that lack of retention, while the aerial duels were not resulting in any definitive advantage for either side.
NCOS sparked when flyhalf Heroldt sped through a gap at his own 10-meter line, and in a arcing sweep, busted past a double tackle and made a try for his own conversion; 24-10 right then, and one might have though, “Game on?”, but Dempsey got his brace shortly thereafter when Angels turned over Falcons ball at the 22, and the wing scooted along touch for a fiver-made-seven by Zsemlye, the bonus-point achieved, and it was 31-10 then as field magistrate, Joe Burpoe, signaled the midpoint and it was lads off for hydration and instruction.
Angles ability to win ball at breakdown, coming in numbers to great effect, made the three-score difference. Denver East experienced success spreading the field out wide on the action of halfback combination, Zach Fields-Alex Dempsey, whose speed of transfer enabled incursion into open space by the Denver centers and backthree backs.
East would score a quartet of trys in the last half against nil for their guests and a five-point victory, 57 – 10, the outcome at Burpoe’s final whistle. Denver East High Angels now sit atop the division on a 2-0-0 record and 10 table points with a points differential of +78.
Next up for the Angels: at Monarch, 11am Saturday, March 9.