October 11, 2008

On a beautiful fall Saturday afternoon, Saint Paul took the field against an old rival in league play for the first time in several years. This season Metroplis is fielding a D-3 squad, who had started strong this season with just one loss coming into this match. But the Pigs came in with an unblemished 4-0 league record, and wanted to keep the streak alive.

The first half started pretty evenly, as a breakaway try by Grant Dietrich for the Pigs was answered by a Metropolis penalty and a 5-3 score. As the first half wore on, however, the Pigs gained more and more possession and consistently won rucks and mauls to retain the ball and move closer to a 2nd try. It finally came after a long period of sustained pressure inside the opposing 22, when Zach Fjelstad took a quick pass off a ruck and dove in for the try. Conversion was good – 12-3 for Saint Paul. Soon after the Pigs were on the score sheet again, as Jason Naber made a long break down the sideline followed by a no-look pass to Ryan Backman in support who centered the try, which was convereted for a 19-3 lead going into halftime.

The second half started with more of the same, as the Pigs camped out in the Metro 22, and finally the breakthrough came as Naber ran right through the opposing scrum half to touch down for the score. He then converted his own try for a 26-3 lead. A defensive miscue then allowed a long breakaway and a Metropolis try to cut the advantage to 26-8. The Pigs stormed right back though, and minutes after narrowly missing out on a try, Scott Colby was able to power in after a nice period of possession. Paul Staats converted this one and the Pigs lead 33-8. Our opponents managed a converted try to cut the lead to 33-15 with about 10 minutes to play – but the Pigs answered right back and closed the scoring with a nice move from Joe Lang who scored after some nice combination work by the Pigs’ back 3, leaving the final score at 40-15.

All in all, it was an outstanding performance by the whole Pigs team to move to 5-0 in league play with only one regular season match remaining.

Line Up:
1. Lauri Kahonen (Ben Hanson), 2. Alan Martin, 3. Joe Exner (Troy Midboe), 4. Ryan Backman, 5. Stephan GrandPrè, 6. Joe Bayer (Nicholas Bannon), 7. Zach Fjelstad , 8. Jason Naber (Mason Hendricks), 9. Dietrich Peterson, 10. Paul Staats, 11. Joe Lang, 12. Seth Spreadbury, 13. Jim Mlenek, 14. Grant Dietrich (Andy Schwartz), 15. Scott Colby

Scoring:
Tries: Dietrich, Fjelstad, Backman, Naber, Colby, Lang
Consversions: Naber (3/4), Staats (2/2)

September 27, 2008

No further details available…

September 20, 2008

No further details available…

September 13, 2008

The Pigs traveled to St Cloud and came out on top of a tough match to get the league win and maintain possession of the Big Ass Brown Jug.

September 6, 2008

The Pigs got off to a good start in league play with a win over the visiting Rochester Rogues. St Paul got off to a good start and took a big lead before Rochester got in 2 last minute trys to make the score a little closer.

August 30, 2008

The Saint Paul Rugby Club went undefeated in pool play, then beat Metropolis 24-12 in the final to win the 35th Annual Jesse James Rugby Tournament on Saturday. Thanks to everyone who came out, from new players to regulars to old boys to supporters, who made this event a success on and off the field.

October 27, 2007

It was a beautiful, sunny fall day in Green Bay as the Saint Paul Pigs made the long trek across Wisconsin to Green Bay for this Midwest Playoff match to take on the Wisconsin RFU Champion Green Bay Celtics.

After the opening kick, the Pigs uncharacteristically got off to a good start and moved the ball deep into Green Bay territory. Despite holding possession for 10 minutes, however, no score would come and after a couple mistakes and some missed tackeles, Green Bay capitalized to score a try on a long run and take a 7-0 lead. The Pigs soon fought back with a Jason Naber penalty, but that was followed by a second Green Bay try and the score stood 14-3. After another Naber kick cut the deficit to 14-6, more mistakes let the Celtics punch in another try and take a 19-6 lead, which they would hold at the half.

The second half looked to be more of the same and didn’t look good, as within the first 5 minutes the Celtics ran in 2 more long breakaway tries thanks to more poor Pigs tackling and took a seemingly commanding 31-6 lead. As they have all season though, the Pigs refused to die and began to fight back. Hard running by the backs started to put the Green Bay defense on its heels, and excellent forward support kept the ball in the Pigs’ possession. 3 Pigs tries from Zeth, Colby and Zac in a 20 minute span later, it was 31-25 and a stunning come from behind victory seemed within reach.

Despite holding possession inside the Green Bay 22 for the last 7 minutes of the game though, some stout tackling kept out the Pigs attack, several times stopping mere inches from the Green Bay try line. With the ball still only 5 meters out from the line, the referree blew his whistle to end the match and with it the Pigs’ playoff hopes for 2007.

After the end of the match, Jeffrey “Kato” Gunness announced his retirement from the Pigs after 13 years, and in a touching cermony buried his boots at midfield.

Line Up:
1. Ben Hanson, 2. Alan Martin, 3. Jeff Gunness (Troy Midboe), 4. Chris Ries (Mark Fredrickson), 5. Jason Naber, 6. Ryan Backman, 7. Josh Van Gelder (captain) (Zac Bauer), 8. Chris Swanson, 9. Jason Rombalski, 10. Scott Colby, 11. Dennis Edwards (Steve King), 12. Seth Spreadbury (Zach Fjelsted), 13. Aaron Hyman, 14. Andy Schwartz, 15. Grant Dietrich

Scoring:
Tries: Colby, Spreadbury, Bauer
Consversions: Naber (2/3)
Penalties: Naber (2/2)

October 20, 2007

In this matchup of teams each with only one loss on the season, it was a predictably very close, back and forth match. The Pigs started brightly for the first few minutes, but then fell back into some old bad habits and started giving away possession, eventually leading to a penalty and a try by Lakehead and an early 8-0 deficit. That score would remain until shortly before halftime when Ryan Backman powered over for a try that was converted by Jason Naber for an 8-7 score at the break.

The second half saw more of the same back and forth play, as first St Paul went up 12-8 on a Grant Dietrich try in the corner, before Lakehead scored again to make it 12-13. Then a bad penalty by the Pigs was tapped quickly and spun out by Lakehead, which led to another try and an 12-18 Exiles lead with around 12 minutes to play. The Pigs were not to be denied on this day though, as 5 minutes later, after a penalty 15 meters from the posts, a forward crash was followed by a nice solo run by Zac Bauer who touched down for the try. Naber’s conversion was good, giving the Pigs a 19-18 lead. Some late Lakehead pressure followed over the last minutes of the game, but the St Paul defense held firm and held on for the win to clinch a Midwest playoff berth and end an excellent Fall Regular Season.

Line Up:
1. Ben Hanson, 2. Alan Martin, 3. Jake Gronemeyer, 4. Chris Ries (Mark Fredrickson), 5. Jason Naber, 6. Ryan Backman, 7. Josh Van Gelder (captain) (Zac Bauer), 8. Chris Swanson, 9. Zach Fjelsted, 10. Scott Colby, 11. Diego Bonita, 12. Aaron Hyman, 13. Dennis Edwards (Steve King), 14. Andy Schwartz, 15. Grant Dietrich

Scoring:
Tries: Backman, Dietrich, Bauer
Consversions: Naber (2/3)

October 6, 2007

The Pigs suffered their first defeat of the Fall 2007 season at the hands of the Banshees. No further details available at this time.

September 29, 2007

A stormy Faribault morning gives way to a sunny Saturday afternoon as the St. Paul Jazz Pigs (3-0 in the Minnesota D-III Rugby League) battle the hometown Boksprings. Coming off a 112-0 victory over the Minneapolis Mayhem, the Pigs are looking for another firm victory. But victory isn’t easy early as Faribault, facing the wind, takes ground by a series of kicks and counters. Eventually, the Pigs take possession in Bokspring territory when Faribault is off-side on a kick. Center Aaron Hyman breaks forty meters, but the Pigs lose possession though poor rucking. Faribault takes a series of penalties which the St. Paul pack crashes into deep territory. A short pitch to lock Chris Ries scores the first try from ten meters out. With a 5-0 lead, St. Paul moves the ball by kicking for touch. Windy and sloppy line-outs result in lost opportunities. Much of the rest of the half consists of unsuccessful mauling and too many scrums.

The teams switch ends; this time St. Paul faces the wind. Faribault continues to take penalties rendering the Pigs in excellent field position. Kato crashes in after another quick tap penalty to the one meter line. Effective rucking gives Chris Ries his second try. Faribault commits even more penalties and the Pigs keep rucking effectively. Zach Fjelsted scores easily off a pick and the conversion makes it 17-0. The next score come when Jason Naber breaks for twenty meters. Two passes later, Cros runs between the pipes for a try. St. Paul add a final try when Zeth Spreadbury drives off the 1-2 switch left of a scrum. Strong defense ensures a Pigs shutout with yet another total team effort.

Line Up:
1. Ben Hanson (Troy Midboe, Cory Becker), 2. Alan Martin, 3. Jeff Gunness, 4. Chris Ries (Mark Fredrickson), 5. Jason Naber, 6. Ryan Backman, 7. Danny Kieffer (Zach Fjelsted), 8. Josh Van Gelder (captain), 9. Jason Rombalski, 10. Scott Colby, 11. Jesse Struve (Seth Spreadbury), 12. Mike Lundberg, 13. Aaron Hyman (Jake Gronemeyer), 14. Andy Schwartz, 15. Grant Dietrich

Scoring:
Tries: Ries (2), Fjelstead, Martin, Spreadbury
Consversions: Naber (3)