CWU Just Barely Holds Off Arizona
CWU Just Barely Holds Off Arizona
In a tense, back-and-forth D1A clash of Wildcats, Central Washington held off Arizona 19-17.
Both teams had opportunities to put this game away and both teams will look longingly at scoring opportunities they didn't take, and in a sense this result settled nothing except to establish that Arizona and Central Washington are, at the moment, essentially equal.
Arizona scored early after a scrum and a wide, looping pass for wing Antonio Gonzalez to take into the corner.
CWU responded by using their size to put Arizona under pressure. Bashing against the Arizona line CWU was stopped, but illegally; Wing Jacob Broselle got a yellow card for what looked to be a professional foul. Central tapped and after a couple of surges to the line they found prop Dan McQuade out wide and he was in.
Central Washington came right back to push for another score. It took some time but eventually a nice break by outside center and captain Sam Dwyer saw him gallop in to put CWU ahead 12-7.
That score held through to halftime. Early in the second half, however, Arizona struck quickly. Center AJ Freeman picked up a pass off his boot-tops, cut through and fed Broselle for a well-taken try out wide. Fullback Matteo Berenger was good on the conversion and Arizona led 14-12.
Berenger added a penalty (CWU not releasing the tackled player) moments later and it was 17-12.
Central Washington camped out in the Arizona end after that. Arizona’s defense held on doggedly but it was energy-sapping stuff, and with the ball CWU was fairly disciplined. Finally they got what they needed, a tiny gap and hooker Campbell Robb found the seam to score. With the conversion Central Washington led 19-17. The PNW team had another prime scoring chance right after this, but Arizona held them out.
Time was winding down but Arizona knew they just needed a chance. They got one with a run down the sideline, but the final pass went into touch. Central, however, was penalized off the lineout and while the penalty was too far away for a shot at goal, Arizona did take the lineout.
They misfired on that but from an ensuing scrum Berenger burst right through the middle. He was free and clear and only had flyhalf Jac Tregoning to beat. Tregoning, however, made a textbook tackle to save the game. Once again Arizona went wide and were almost through with lock Aiden Henry but a double tackle from Chris Grosse and Julian Niulala put the big man into touch.
But it wasn’t over. CWU overthrew their lineout and had Arizona hooker Cameron Blair been a little bit luckier he’d have taken that throw and potentially scored. As it was, CWU got a scrum for Blair’s unlucky knock-on and while the scrum fell apart somewhat Central was able to clear. Still time left, and with a lineout at midfield Arizona had one more chance.
CWU was once again guilty of no tackler-release and we were back with an Arizona lineout about 38 meters from Central Washington’s line.
But for Arizona it was not to be. The throw was not straight—still time left and under pressure in the scrum CWU opted for a lineout. And, shockingly, we weren’t done. Freshman flanker Andreas Andersson stole the throw and Arizona, amazingly, had one more shot. But on their first run CWU center Conner Grande thundered in and ripped the ball free. Kick to touch and the game was over.
For both teams, there were tries unclaimed. CWU will be looking at their discipline and their set piece. Arizona, despite scoring twice on the wing, will be looking at how they can finish chances out wide. Both have plenty of rugby to show.
Central Washington 19
Tries: McQuade, Dwyer, Robb
Convs: Tregoning 2
Arizona 17
Tries: Gonzalez, Broselle
Convs: Berenger 2
Pens: Berenger
