Defense prevails as UA rugby wins Invitational

Nicholas Valenzuela Arizona Daily Wildcat UA rugby sophomore lock Dan Duncan (right) goes up for the ball during a line up against New Mexico on Saturday. The UA rugby team won the Memorial Invitational Tournament that was held at Estevan Park on Saturday and Sunday. They beat Colorado in the championship game 13-8.

The Arizona rugby club team (13-4 overall) won its Memorial Invitational by defeating the New Mexico Lobos 12-7 on Saturday and the Colorado Buffaloes 13-8 on Sunday in the championship game by playing great defense.

"I thought Arizona really outhustled us to the ball today," New Mexico head coach Shannon Robinson said. "We both play good defense so we weren't shocked by the score."

On Saturday the UA got tries from sophomore Dan Duncan and senior Jason Arcaro. Sunday, the Wildcats' only try was by Duncan.

"Dan Duncan is a young player with speed and skills. He is a ferocious tackler and even though he is only a sophomore, he is having a major impact on our program," UA head coach Dave Sitton said.

Arizona also got a great weekend out of Zack Harrison.

The junior accounted for 10 of the UA's 25 points on the weekend with great place kicking.

"We didn't play as well as we should have on Saturday but today (Sunday) we came out and played well," Harrison said. "We just picked it up a level."

The UA, who has now won all three Memorial Invitationals, was playing without junior fullback and field captain Chris Kron, who suffered a pulled hamstring in Thursday's practice. Senior Lock Paul Gause was also out of the lineup on Saturday.

In the championship game against the Buffaloes, the Wildcats took an early three-point lead on Harrison's 30-yard drop goal kick. Ten minutes later, CU's fly half Phil DiPaulo answered with a 30-yard kick of his own to tie the match at three.

Duncan scored his try just minutes before intermission and Harrison converted to take a 10-3 halftime lead.

In the second half, UA junior Mike Fair was sent off after receiving a misconduct call for fighting. As Sitton put it, "Mike just lost his emotions temporarily and the ejection was not a surprise."

When the Wildcats were forced to play with one less player because of the ejection, they threw it into high gear and held off a comeback try by the Buffaloes to secure the championship.

"I take my hat off to my team for playing without one guy and playing well," Sitton said.