ARIZONA GRINDS OUT PRESEASON WIN
arizona 31
san diego state 11
Gustave Martinez was a standout for the Wildcats, scoring a try and helping push the Aztec defense. (Photo credits: Josh Pearson)
October 9- In previous seasons, October was dedicated to training, a bit of Sevens, and an occasional preseason match to see what underclassmen could do. Much has changed this year, and Saturday was an early indication that this strategy may already be paying off for the program in its 55th season.
The Wildcats welcomed San Diego State to Sitton Field, with a mixed side led by Number Eight Jack Bresland starting well, putting a try on the board through Hooker Cameron Blair to make it 5-0 in the early stages. A penalty to Arizona and some great attack shape from Flyhalf Ted Champion and Centers Mattox King and Gustave Martinez resulted in a try from Martinez. A Jacob Hall conversion made it 12-0 before a penalty to the Aztecs would get them on the board and cut the lead to nine, then six on a second shot at goal. Late in the half, an Arizona lineout would create another attacking opportunity, with Blair touching down for his second score to make it 19-6 at halftime following a Ted Champion conversion.
In the second half, Champion would take advantage of a strong Martinez carry to slice through the line and score his first try of the year, making it 26-6 in favor of the hosts. The final score, a well-worked maul, put Hooker Henry Langrish into the try zone, with a late SDSU try closing things to 31-11 Arizona.
"First off, thanks to SDSU who was looking for just what we were- a game to test out some things and knock the rust off and clearly we need it. We made a lot of mistakes, but we'd rather make them now in a game environment where the consequences are larger than at the training pitch. Credit to the guys at half, they were a little frustrated but with no coach prompting they owned it, addressed it, and we went about making the tweaks to win the arm wrestle a bit. A lot of work to do but a great defensive foundation today" said Director of Rugby Sean Duffy.
The Wildcats will put two sides in action this weekend in Utah as they take on Utah Valley in Orem.
SDSU SCORING
31-11
Tries: Blair (2), Martinez, Champion, Langrish
Conversions: Hall- 1/1, Champion- 2/3, B. Liddell- 0/1
SDSU LINEUP
1- Caeden Chase
2- Cameron Blair
3- Liam Swanson
4- Pacific Smiley
5- Harry Hobson
6- Andreas Andersson
7- Troy Norman
8- Jack Bresland (C)
9- Jacob Hall
10- Ted Champion
11- Jude Beatty
12- Gustave Martinez
13- Mattox King
14- Antonio Gonzalez
15- Connor McCormick
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16- Henry Langrish
17- Seamus McCarthy
18- Lucas Holton
19- Charles Williams
20- Aiden Kemp
21- Blake Liddell
22- Seth Catchpole
23- Will Rohrsheim
24- Jackson Kutcher