October 1, 2005
The Pigs came out looking strong for the second league match of the season vs. the Rochester Rogues. Attacking from the start, St. Paul held possession for a long period before finally breaking through for the first try of the match. The ball was held in the pack and driven forward, before eventually Luke Utting was able to break through for the try. Jason Naber’s kick was good for the 7-0 lead. Soon the lead would double, with more possession inside the Rochester 22, followed by quick ball out to the backs where Steve Pinto ran a switch with center Jesse Struve who powered in for the score. Naber’s kick was again good for a 14-0 lead. The final Pigs try of the half came after several penalties against Rochester that were taken quickly, rucked over, and passed to onrushing forwards, with Utting eventually getting the final pass for his second try and a 19-0 lead. Not long before the half, a ball was spun wide and dropped, which the Rogues were able to pounce on to set up a counter that went the length of the field for a try, and a halt time score of 19-7.
The second half mirrored the first, with a quick Pigs try off a counter attack from a Rochester kick. Fullback Bill Bridgeman fielded the kick and passed out to Struve, who then hit Brian VanOosbree who broke a couple tackles and got in for the try. That was followed by a try off a stolen scrum feed, with Pinto keeping the ball and squeezing through the Rochester defense to score. Naber’s kick was again good for a 33-7 lead. Rochester then fought back with a long solo run from their outside center for a converted try that cut the lead to 33-14. The Pigs weren’t done, though, and a series of runs with good support from the whole team eventually led to Naber touching down for a try to bring his point total on the day to 13, and a final score of 38-14 for the Pigs.
Lineup:
1. Lauri Kahonen (Ben Hanson) 2. Luke Utting (Jeff Gunness) 3. Troy Midboe (Alan Martin) 4. Craig Alberg 5. Jason Naber (Mark Fredrickson) 6. Josh Van Gelder 7. Zac Bauer (Mike Hankee) 8. Ryan Backman 9. Jason Rombalski (Captain) (Ryan Driessen) 10. Steve Pinto 11. Jason Benson 12. Jesse Struve 13. Brian VanOosbree 14. Jamarr Johnson 15. Bill Bridgeman
Scoring:
Tries: Utting (2), Struve, VanOosbree, Pinto, Naber
Conversions: Naber (4/6)
B-Side
With strong numbers throghout the fall, we set up an abbreviated 11 a-side B-Side match so that everyone could get some playing time in. Thanks to the guys from Bethel as well as the Old Boys who helped fill out the sides. Team Red defeated Team White 33-19.