Annual Santa Fe Fiesta 10’s
September 04, 2022
Santa Fe Fiesta 10s Rugby Tournament (Sept. 4, 2022)
Santa Fe Los Santos are hosting our annual Labor Day weekend 10s Tournament. This year, during an intermission, features an old boys over 40s match Anasazi RFC vs. Phoenix area Old Southwest RFC.
Traditional SFRFC Feed at the magnificent Santa Fe Rugby Complex
After tournament social will continue on 2nd floor of SFRFC sponsor Santa Fe Brewing Co’s impressive HQ complex.
Registration and Payment of Entry Fee
Register your team by emailing contact@santafelossantos.com
Payment through Venmo or Paypal (which are preferred) or for other means email santaferugby@gmail.com. Southwest Rugby Football Union teams = $300 OR if out of state entry Fee = $125
Venmo payment @santos-rugby
Paypal payment santaferugby@gmail.com
General questions, comments, and other info
Please contact Los Santos Board via email, contact@santafelossantos.com
7s Tournament Results
Zia 7’s Tournament
Albuquerque, NM
July 23, 2022 - DW
Los Santos sent a numerically-slim side to the Zia Sevens in Albuquerque Saturday, and as temperatures rose toward 100 F most of the guys probably lost a few pounds of body weight as well. According to team captain Ryan Weir the lack of substitutes caused by forced absences of a couple Santos who hoped to play was probably the difference in an early 27-22 loss to Brujos RFC. In the second round Santa Fe fell 25-7 to Albuquerque’s Aardvarks in a second half many in attendance agreed was the day’s best rugby on show. Organized by the Atomic Sisters WRFC, the Zia Sevens featured six female teams: Tempe, Phoenix, Rocky Mountain Magic, two Atomic Sisters teams, and a “motley” team of available players. Santos captain Ryan Weir was able to catch the Tempe v Phoenix match, won by Tempe, and surmised by the quality of play that Tempe was the eventual tournament winners.
At press time it was unknown whether recent Santa Fe resident Libby Treu, formerly of Humboldt University, played on Saturday. Libby has been contributing to the fitness and fun at recent Thursday evening touch matches (6 pm @ MRC).
The men’s bracket was composed of the usual local suspects – Brujos, Aardvarks, and Santos, plus a team of whores. Although the Aardvarks also beat the Brujos 29-14, it was the whores who finished undefeated!
At the conclusion of tournament play the men’s pool was split into two fifteens teams and two 15-minute halves were played. Sounds like a concept worthy of consideration in future local get-togethers!
RUGBY RUMOURS
Reports of a potential all-comers match in Pagosa Springs, CO this coming Saturday (7/30) could not be confirmed as this story was being prepared. Watch for further information as available.
Representing Los Santos:
Ryan Weir, captain
Mateo Cardiel
Jared Skillman
Jason Osborn
Jaime Terrazas
Justin Stallworth
Ben Schlapi
Armando Herrera
Santos Win 2, Lose 1 in Celtic Heat
Celtic 7’s Tournament
Albuquerque, NM
June 04, 2022 - DW
A slapdash Santa Fe side surprised themselves by winning two of three matches in the 2022 Celtic Sevens last Saturday, June 4. Having exactly seven Santos show up to play didn’t turn out to be the disaster one might suspect; in fact, we made some fine new friends. Several if not most teams entered in the tournament required auxiliary players (otherwise known as whores) to get through their brackets. But as we found out, even that time-honored strategy has its limits.
Los Santos got started at 9 am on Field One against tournament hosts Brujos. Our boys dominated field position through efficient rucking in the first half but couldn’t seem to get over the line. At least one sure-looking try went begging through “unselfish play” – a last unnecessary pass near the line. It was up to captain Ryan Weir to pin his ears back and beat two would-be tacklers to get over the line. Which he did. Somebody missed the mandated drop-kick conversion.
The Brujos converted their try (probably in either the first or second half) before hard-working SF irregular Kyle Grinold (alias Stitch) settled matters with our second try. Somebody’s brother, Someone, missed the drop-kick conversion but it was enough for a 10-7 Santos win.
Temperatures rose steadily into the nineties, but at least we were spared the winds that have tormented New Mexico all spring. The atmosphere was greatly added to with the happy return of the Rio Grande Valley Celtic Festival right next door. Tartaned dancers, sailing hay bales, tumbling cabers, bagpipe music, and of course a multitude of old friends-seldom-seen made this reporter feel at times like we’d all not been away for two years. Or was it three?
After a comprehensive 90-second warmup & stretch the boys were ready for their next test against a team simply named Las Cruces, apparently a mix of university and club players. Jaime Terrazas, NMT-bound in the fall, scored our first try, which Stitch converted. Ryan got his second but again someone missed the conversion. Again, Los Santos were out-rucking their opponents, moving the ball efficiently, and butchering the occasional opportunity. The Chiles/Black Hog/Aggies scored against the run of play and converted a try, 12-7.
That guy Stitch scored yet another try but missed the conversion before Jared Skillman scored on a lengthy effort, the conversion of which the third brother, Sin Nombre, missed. LC got the last say but lost, 22-14.
On the subject of rugby courtesans, Santa Fe also benefited from the play of Frank, like Stitch, a member of the Aardvarks, and St. Pius High standout Cian Jones, bound for New Mexico Tech next fall on one of two of their rugby scholarships. Young Mr. Jones scored nine points for us on a try and two conversions, wearing the reporter’s red shorts. Cian’s dad told me between matches that Tech’s national small college sevens championship-winning coach, Gearoid Dunbar, is moving on to a new challenge at a college in Virginia.
Next up was a team of former UNM players self-billed as the GOATS (greatest of all time). What-EVER! To their credit the opposition played a sound brand and had beaten their previous opponents handily. A spirited, back-and-forth match ensued, the details of which I couldn’t jot down due to being called to run a touchline. I suppose I could use my memory – but no.
I do recall being impressed by the Santos’ liveliness and determination. Apparently, everyone had been training diligently at home. In the end we lost a close one, 29-26, a decent showing considering the lack of group rehearsals.
Returning thankfully to the shade of Jeremy’s canopy, no one seemed convincingly upset when word came that chronic shortages among most teams meant the guys had played their last game. From across the green expanse, the beer tent beckoned. Sudden word that a fourth match remained to be played turned out to be a hoax, and everyone disappeared to the oasis. Except for loose forward Jason Osborn, who soon ran out in the time-honored role discussed earlier. The man loves his rugby.
I stuck around Pitch One to watch the championship, Aardvarks vs. GOATS. A tight contest, with each team showing their scoring capabilities. Just before halftime, an Aardvark player looked certain to score but was cut down from behind by the diving tackle of a defender wearing red shorts. You guessed it, Jason Osborn. Good on ya, lad!
Representing Los Santos:
Jared Skillman
Dylan Merrigan
Jason Osborn
Jeremy Lithgow
Angel Villa
Jaime Terrazas
Ryan Weir (Captain)
Richard Morris (Coach)
50th Year Celebration
July 10, 2022
We have made it to 50! That’s right, Santa Fe RFC, born in 1972, is now half a century old. To commemorate this, two major anniversary events are planned for 2022. Our first celebration, over the Labor Day weekend will feature a center-stage Anasazi Over 40s match on Sunday during the annual Santa Fe Tens Tournament. Attendees at the Labor Day event are heartily invited to also attend a SF Los Santos match on October 22, to be followed by our Golden Anniversary Banquet that evening.
EVENT 1: Sun, Sept 4: Anasazi vs. the Old Southwest RFC
Take part in the Santa Fe Fiesta Tens tournament (formerly 7s at 7000 ft.)
Mid-day match with the Phoenix area Old Southwest RFC over 40’s
Traditional SFRFC Feed at the magnificent SF Rugby Complex
After tournament social will continue on 2nd floor of SFRFC sponsor SF Brewing Co’s impressive HQ complex.
EVENT 2: Sat. Oct 22: Golden Anniversary Gala Day and Banquet
Santa Fe RFC’s Los Santos friendly match at the MRC Rugby Pitch followed by traditional post match feed with visiting team.
Golden Anniversary Gala Banquet at the Santa Fe Country Club
How do I get on the Old Boy roster and/or signup for information?
If you plan to attend any of these events and/or if you would like to receive information updates or update your contact information, please click this link for a Google RSVP Form. Information can also be sent to santaferugby@gmail.com.
What if I ordered a 50th Jersey?
Special 50th Jerseys will be sported by the September 4 Anasazi squad.
If you ordered a jersey, please pay for your 50th jersey here through Venmo or Paypal (which are preferred) or for other means contact us.
50th Jersey with NO shipping = $85
50th Jersey plus shipping = $100
Venmo payment: @santos-rugby
Paypal payment: @sfrugby
50th Gala Banquet
On the evening of October 22, 2022 we will be celebrating our 50 years at a formal dinner with agenda to follow.
Banquet will be located at the Santa Fe Country Club
Dinner will consist of dinner salad, entrée choice, dessert, and cash bar.
RSVP for the Gala dinner with Google Form, click here or email santaferugby@gmail.com for a fillable form.
Dinner tickets $50 per person (Last day to RSVP October 12)
To pay for Gala dinner tickets use these links:
Venmo payment: @santos-rugby
Paypal payment: @sfrugby
For other payment options email santaferugby@gmail.com
Questions, comments, and other info
Please contact the Board via email, contact@santafelossantos.com
Santa Fe Los Santos Golf Tournament
August 19, 2022
August 19, 2022 at the Marty Sanchez Links de Santa Fe Golf Course.
Entry fee $100 per person, includes practice balls.
Be a hole sponsor, support Los Santos Rugby in our 50th Year Celebration!
To register and for sponsor details go to Google Form, click here or email Greg Smith (Tournament Director) pants11@msn.com for a fillable form.
How do I pay the entry fee or hole sponsor payment?
Venmo payment: @santos-rugby
Paypal payment: @SFRugby
For other payment options email santaferugby@gmail.com
Contact Greg Smith, Tournament Director
Santos Score Four Second-Half Tries at Home
Aardvarks Win 85-33
April 10, 2022
Los Santos of the Santa Fe Rugby Club lost their last match of the spring season against Albuquerque’s Aardvarks but finished on an optimistic note by scoring four of their five tries in the second half. The visitors meanwhile parlayed their 47-7 halftime lead into an 85-33 win against a Santos side with no quit in them.
In an important sense the Santos won a bigger challenge by completing a uniquely short playing window wedged between winter at 7,000 feet and the dictates of the national club playoff schedule. Faced with a profound number of recent retirements, the club succeeded in fielding a squad for every one of six consecutive weekends of Southwest Rugby Union competition.
On a bright Saturday made for rugby Los Santos were more than equal at scrum time and lineouts were a reasonably reliable source of possession throughout. Santa Fe consistently won the first few and on occasion, several more attacking rucks, but seemed to lack the finishing punch to score before eventually turning the ball over. Several times those turnovers resulted in long scoring breaks for the opposition, which gave the scoreboard (we need a scoreboard -ed.) a distorted sense of visitor dominance.
Santa Fe trailed by 12 by the time elegantly-sculpted tighthead prop Dylan Merrigan forced his way over the line after 15 minutes. Reliable #10 Mark Woodward booted the easy conversion. The Aardvarks went on to touch down five more tries in the opening 40 minutes for a 47-7 bulge.
Los Santos managed four more tries in the second half amid a continuing barrage of Aardvark scores. The visitors capitalized for seven points from a turnover on the opening kickoff but Santa Fe recovered to carry play deep into the other end on the strength of a remarkable break by rapidly-developing lock Jeremy Lithgow, followed up strongly by his mates. The close-range pressure proved too great for the Aardvarks, who bailed out of the situation by conceding a penalty try, 54-14.
The Santos drove deep after another unconverted Aardvark try at 12 minutes, and after making eye contact with Mateo Cardiel lurking on the wing, veteran Armando Herrera sneaked a grubber behind the visitors’ backline for the sleek racer to streak through and touch down. Woodward’s kick into a crosswind curved beautifully through the sticks, 59-21.
The visitors piled on another three tries before Mr. Herrera counted coup on a prolonged forwards’ assault on the line, which with Woodward’s kick brought matters to 80-28.
Appropriately Los Santos’ season scoring was completed with a try by master flyhalf Cory Micander soon after coming on to finish the match. Once again the home team wrung repeated penalties out of the visitors, resulting in Micander’s exploitation of an overload on the flank. Final 85-33.
In a late-breaking development, Los Santos won the third-half Boat Race at Santa Fe Brewing Co’s. Mateo Cardiel was named SF’s Man of the Match by a mysterious cabal, who were forced to admit each and every Santo added luster to his image.
The Aardvarks, who played with skill and at times flair, appear to be peaking at the right time. With a 6-0 Rio Grande division record achieved on the back of successive dominant wins (92-5 vs. Brujos April 2), they will take a week off before heading into the Southwest Rugby Football Union playoffs in Phoenix on the weekend of April 23-24. Rumors have it some Santos are planning to attend. It was not known at press time whether golf is in the itinerary, but pool time seems unavoidable.
According to this scribe’s creaky calculations, Santa Fe finishes their campaign with a season tally of 6 SWRFU competition points: one bonus point for a loss of less than seven points at home against El Paso on March 19; 3 points for their win 39-27 home win over Brujos March 26, with 1 bonus point added for scoring four tries; and 1 bonus point for tallying at least four tries in the season closer against Aardvarks.
Starting team
1. Jack Lastovka
2. Dan Allinder
3. Dylan Merrigan
4. Angel Villa
5. Jeremy Lithgow
6. John Bent
7. Jason Osborn
8. Ryan Weir (capt.)
9. Mateo Cardiel
10. Mark Woodward
11. Skip McGee
12. Rainer Ball
13. Jaime Terrazos Lozano
14. Levi Caizza
15. Isaiah Sanchez
Replacements: Ryan Means, Steve Totter, Armando Herrera, Justin Stallworth, Cory Micander
Santos Ironman Side Falls Short
El Paso 32 Santos 20
Las Cruces, NM
April 2, 2022 - DW
Los Santos’ attempt to replicate El Paso’s iron man win in Santa Fe two weeks ago fell just short on the NMSU campus in Las Cruces Saturday. Arriving with the bare minimum of players, our boys duked it out with the since-replenished Scorpions and but for a few bad bounces and a mental lapse may well have pulled off the upset.
Mateo Cardiel continued his confident rise since recently migrating to our shores. The Los Alamos youth rugby product scored all 20 of Santa Fe’s points through three tries, one conversion, and a penalty goal. According to Mateo, youngest son of Demetrio and nephew of former NMSU great Aaron, one try came from his own chip kick, one from a simple passing move to the outside, and the third on a short-range dash through the middle.
The lads at training last night reported a careless slapdown of an opponent’s pass by a Santo in an offside position led to a yellow card and either one or two easy tries for the Scorps.
Quadarius Miller turned up despite his nagging hamstring and John Bent postponed his back rehab when he found out the team was short and made Friday evening plans to be there. As the thermometer hit 87F, Jared Skillman gave his all and was named Los Santos’ Man of the Match. With one match remaining in a grueling schedule of six consecutive weeks, every man who showed up bathed himself in honor (cue Dire Straits).
This Saturday is our last match of the campaign, against the unbeaten Aardvarks, at 1:00 pm at the Municipal Rugby Complex. The Varks beat Brujos 95-5 Saturday. A perplexed Ray Marrone, aka “Papa Vark”, told me the match was “over before it started” because “the Brujos just didn’t look up for it”.
Training numbers last night hovered around a half dozen. We can and should celebrate that by hook and by crook, we have apparently fielded a team for each of our league matches. The El Paso game, while revealing that our numbers challenge will be ongoing, has established a strong core of fire-tempered men. Going into our last match, the only unknown is who will reinforce them.
Santos Roster v EP 4/2/2022
1. Dan Allinder
2. Ryan Means
3. Jack Lastovka – Big Jack goes 80 in 87F
4/5. Jared Skillman
4/5. Jeremy Lithgow
6. Mando Herrera
7. Jason Osborn
8. Ryan Weir
9. John Bent
10. Dustin Webb
12. Justin Money Stallworth
13. Jaime Terrazas Lozano
11. Quadarius Miller
14. Jonathan Lithgow
15. Mateo Cardiel
Replacements: “Levi H. Caizza”
NEXT UP
The SFRFC board is arranging a booth for us at Santa Fe Brewing Co’s first Spring Runoff on April 16, 2022. Stay tuned for details.
https://happeningnext.com/event/spring-runoff-eid3a08ip30e5
There are rumors of a tournament, probably 15s, in Juarez, Chihuahua on April 30.
We have also received a feeler from Aspen Gentlemen about playing a friendly over the summer.
The annual “mountain rugby” thing will be happening amongst Colorado’s ski towns, including olde Santa Fe fave The Cowpie Classic tournament in July. We haven’t won that one for a few years . . .
It’s also up to YOU to decide whatever else the club might do – touch, river run, picnic, hikes, etc?
Would a SEASON REVIEW be useful?
Santa Fe Rugby Santos Win at Home
Los Santos 39, Brujos 27
March 26, 2022
March 2, 2021
Santa Fe’s Santos Rugby Club stormed to a 39-27 home victory over the Albuquerque
Brujos at the Municipal Rugby Complex Saturday, avenging a 25-15 road loss to the same
club two weekends before.
Santa Fe’s set of seven backs showed fluidity in running and passing, especially in the
first half.
Their eight forwards also demonstrated overall superiority over their rivals, particularly in the
set scrums, although a handful of opportunities to convert their advantage into points were
missed.
The hosts showed their best form of the season in the game’s opening 25 minutes,
scoring three five-point tries (touchdowns), each converted into seven points scores through
accurate conversion kicks by flyhalf Mark Woodward.
Six minutes in, silky fullback Isaiah Sanchez took a well-timed pass from center Jaime
Terrazas to score untouched. At 19 minutes Santos captain Ryan Weir scored another
converted try after his team worked the ball close to the try line. Five minutes later Santa Fe’s
giant prop Dylan Merrigan proved unstoppable in a near-identical situation, and once again
Woodward’s kick found the range.
Down 21-0, the Brujos finally broke through Santa Fe’s defense for a long passing
movement after 29 minutes, but a diving tackle by Isaiah Sanchez set up a successful tryline
stand by the Santos to deny a potential score. The Santos muffed a drop kick from their own
line, however, resulting in an unconverted Brujos try and a 21-5 score.
Just before halftime the Brujos kept possession of the ball through several rucks (post-
tackle contests) before exploiting a gap on Santa Fe’s right side to score another unconverted
try for a 21-10 halftime score.
The Duke City team closed to within 21-17 with a short-range, converted try just a
minute into the game’s second half. Los Santos answered seven minutes later when center
Ben Schlappi barreled over in the right corner to complete a penalty play close to the visitors’
line. Woodward kept his conversion kicking record spotless with a difficult completion from a
steep angle and Santa Fe eased out to 28-17. The Hong Kong native then increased Santa
Fe’s lead to 31-17 with a three-point penalty kick in the 27 th minute.
With 10 minutes to play Santo scrumhalf Mateo Cardiel, a Los Alamos youth rugby
product, increased his team’s lead to 36-17 with a 95-meter sprint from a penalty play just
five meters from Santa Fe’s line. Another Woodward penalty kick four minutes later seemed
to seal the Brujos’ fate as the Santos lead ballooned to 39-17.
Yet as in their loss to the Brujos two weeks earlier, Los Santos ran low on steam in the
game’s final minutes, allowing their opponents repeated breakthroughs and two more
converted tries for a final tally of Santa Fe 39, Brujos 27.
Los Santos will return a visit from El Paso’s Scorpion Rugby Club next Saturday, April
2. The Scorps beat Santa Fe 27-21 on March 19.
El Paso Scorpions Spoil Santos Home Opener
Scorps in 27-21 Iron Man Rugby Win
March 19, 2022
March 22, 2021
Santa Fe’s Santos Rugby Club fell 27-21 at home Saturday to a committed El Paso Scorpions side. The Scorps arrived with the minimum of 15 players but went about their business aggressively to consign Santa Fe to a 0-3 season record with three matches to go.
Both teams defended well in the opening minutes until Santa Fe’s outside center Jaime Terrazas fielded a chip kick in the try zone after 15 minutes. Unfortunately the play was called back for a Santa Fe infringement earlier in the play. The Santos kept the attacking pressure on and El Paso were penalized three minutes later, but standoff Mark Woodward’s kick sailed wide.
A few other Santo passes went to ground at inopportune moments to keep the teams level, until at 33 minutes El Paso finally broke their duck on a runaway intercept try of some 70 meters. The conversion was good from between the sticks, 7-0.
Shortly before halftime, with the home team again threatening, an errant ball was kicked through and collected by a Scorpion back. Fleet Santo fullback Isaiah Sanchez gamely made up the offender’s lead but the ball just got over the line in Izzy’s diving tackle. The conversion was missed and El Paso led 12-0 at the break.
The Santos finally got on the board six minutes after halftime courtesy of loose forward Justin Stall worth's jinking 30-meter run through the middle to finish a multi-phase attack. Flyhalf Mark Woodward’s conversion was good, 12-7.
Quadarius Miller topped off another Santos attack six minutes later with an outflanking run of a similar length. Woodward maximized this try also and Santa Fe held a 14-12 lead for about eight minutes, before El Paso capped a long spell of possession close to Santa Fe’s line with a close-range try. The conversion was good to put the Scorps back in the lead and four minutes later a penalty kick stretched the score to 22-14, El Paso. Compounding the issue, a lost lineout at 79 minutes led to one last, unconverted try from El Paso’s right wing and a commanding 27-14 lead.
As referee Mark Kelly glanced at his watch, Santa Fe’s last man on, Jonathan Lithgow, shed multiple tacklers to somehow spurt over the line. Lithgow’s heroics, along with Terrazas’s laser droppie for the extra two points, averted a Santa Fe whitewash by earning two Southwest RFU competition bonus points. Final score: El Paso 27, Santa Fe 21.
Had a few more passes gone to hand, Santa Fe would have won this match. Forever-upbeat Mateo Cardiel was named Santos Man of the Match for his performance at scrumhalf. Hooker Dan Allinder and lock forward Jeremy Lithgow also received plaudits for their steadfast play at the center of a rugged match. Hooker Ryan Means immediately bumped up Santa Fe’s passion and pace when he came on in the second half.
The Brujos of Albuquerque will be at Santa Fe’s Municipal Recreation Complex next Saturday, March 26 for the return match of Santa Fe’s 25-15 road loss two weeks ago. The Santos then visit El Paso April 2 before finishing Southwest RFU pool play against Aardvarks at home on April 9.
For Los Santos:
1. Dan Allinder
2. Adam Jobes
3. Dylan Merrigan
4. Angel Villa
5. Jason Lithgow
6. Jason Osborn
7. Ryan Weir, captain
8. Justin Stallworth
9. Mateo Cardiel
10. Mark Woodward
12. David Niven
13. Jaime Terrazas Lozano
11. Ben Schlappi
14. Levi Caizza
15. Isaiah Sanchez
Also: Jack Lastovka, David Jondreau, Skip McGee, Ryan Means, Mando Herrera, Jared Skillman Richard Morris (coach)
