OGDEN, Utah — Mines Men's Rugby faced a tough road test Saturday against conference leaders Weber State, falling 37–10 in a physical contest that challenged the Orediggers on both sides of the ball. Despite the result, Mines battled throughout the match and found opportunities to compete against one of the league's top teams.
Weber State struck first, capitalizing on possession from a scrum to score an early try. Mines responded shortly after the kickoff, with Will Skaar converting a penalty kick to put the Orediggers on the scoreboard.
The teams traded possession through an extended stretch of play before Weber broke through with a deep run for another try. The hosts continued to apply pressure, scoring off quick pop passes near the sideline before adding another try following a break through the Mines defensive line. With a successful conversion, Weber built a 22–3 lead by halftime.
The first half ended with a physical exchange near the sideline after a hard tackle sent Skaar out of bounds, briefly bringing both teams together before the match resumed.
Weber extended its lead early in the second half, scoring near the sideline after recovering a bouncing ball and following it with a short grubber kick. Another try followed after a penalty at a defensive scrum gave the hosts an attacking opportunity near the try zone.
Mines continued to fight and eventually found the try line through Oliver Sanders, who entered the match in relief at scrumhalf. After a penalty against Weber for not wrapping in a tackle, Sanders finished the attack to give the Orediggers the score. Bryce Roder added the conversion to bring Mines to 10 points.
Weber added one final try following a long drive downfield, but Mines continued to compete through the closing stages. The match ended with the Orediggers pushing deep into Weber's 22-meter area, finishing the contest in a determined attacking effort.
Despite the final score, Mines showed positive signs throughout the match. The forwards competed well in the scrums, while the backs moved the ball effectively and did well to poach possession quickly. Plenty of areas remain for improvement, providing the team with a clear focus heading into the next week of preparation.
Makalu Ostrom was named Man of the Match, with Dempsey Brinkman earning Second Man of the Match honors for their performances.
The loss provides valuable experience for the Orediggers as they continue their league campaign. Mines will take the lessons from Ogden back to practice, focusing on improving lineout execution, maintaining discipline and building on the positives from a hard-fought contest against the conference leaders.
On to the next.
