GOLDEN, Colo. — Mines Men's Rugby earned a 24–14 victory over the University of Colorado Boulder's second XV Saturday at IM North, combining strong forward play with effective backline attack to secure the win in a valuable tune-up ahead of next week's league match.
The Orediggers started well, setting the tone early through their forward pack. Michael Crone opened the scoring by finishing a lineout maul, rewarding a strong set-piece effort from Mines. The teams then traded possession through a series of scrums and lineouts before Nathaniel Oehler powered over during a goal-line battle. Bryce Roder added the conversion to extend the Mines advantage.
Mines continued to create opportunities through its set pieces, while the defense held firm when CU threatened near the try line. After a CU lineout nearly produced a score, the Buffaloes were penalized for playing the ball on the ground. The Orediggers later turned another sequence of set pieces into points when Jack Thome broke loose for a long run and a try. Will Skaar converted to give Mines a strong first-half performance.
CU responded after halftime, scoring off a breakaway that was initially stopped before the Buffaloes' forward pack carried the ball over the line. The conversion brought CU back into the contest, but Mines answered with another attacking opportunity. Following a stolen lineout by Max Zaharas and a CU penalty for diving in, Roder crossed for a try to push the lead to 24–7.
The Buffaloes continued to apply pressure and eventually scored from close range after a high-tackle penalty brought them within reach of the try line. The conversion made it 24–14, setting up a tense finish. The second half also saw disciplinary challenges for Mines, with Zaharas receiving a red card and Crone a yellow card for high tackles.
Despite the setbacks, the Orediggers closed out the match and secured the 24–14 victory. A well-executed offensive lineout and a kick from Roder helped bring the contest to a close.
Mines' forward pack was a major strength throughout the match, winning the majority of offensive and defensive lineouts while establishing dominance in the scrum. The backs also came forward aggressively and moved the ball effectively to create scoring opportunities. Isaac Larson was named Man of the Match for his exemplary performance.
While the result was a positive one, the Orediggers know there is still work to do. Penalties and discipline remain areas for improvement as the team continues to sharpen its execution and prepare for league competition.
The scrimmage provided valuable experience and a chance to identify areas for growth ahead of next week's road matchup with Weber State on Oct. 24. Mines will look to build on its strong set-piece play while cleaning up its penalties before returning to league action.
On to the next.
