Nov 12- Arizona hosted the reigning DIAA national champions at Sitton Field on Saturday, with the Wildcats looking to move to 6-0 for the first time since 2018.

 

With a mixed lineup that included some starters but several new faces filling in, first-year Flyhalf Saxon Gerstl emerged to lead the attack, rebounding from some early mistakes to lead a 24-7 second half margin. The Wildcats would start well, with fellow first-year athlete Sintu Mjali setting up two tries in the first half, one by Tanner DeMassa and the other by Matteo Berenger. A maul by the Arizona forwards would make it 19-12 at halftime, but two USD tries had the Wildcats in their tightest contest of the year thus far.

 

The tight game forced the team to make adjustments and those paid off, with Gerstl pinning the Toreros into their 22 on multiple occasions in the second half. The Wildcats' attack would build shape in the 50th minute, with Charley Redknapp taking a pass from Aiden Kemp, breaking the line, and finding Mattox King in support to make it 29-12. Penalties in the 22 were a key piece for both sides, with the Wildcats taking advantage of one deep in opposing territory that allowed Flanker Andreas Andersson to pick and go to make it 36-12. More 22 attack would wear down the opposition, with Gerstl putting King through a gap just a few meters out for his second try of the game. Capping the day was a late try by the Flyhalf, with the Sydney-born Freshman wrapping up a great first start for the Wildcats with a dummy and go to seal the 50-17 win. "Our attack is building, and learning that language so quickly and then being able to implement and make reads for a first year guy is special" said Director of Rugby Sean Duffy. "A lot of great performances on the weekend, especially in the second half when some guys really stepped up and played well as a unit, not as athletes. Special shoutout to the McCarthy brothers, getting on the field in the front row together for the first time was a moment I know they'll remember." 

 

The win puts the Wildcats on the cusp of an undefeated Fall, with Mount St. Mary's looming December 8th in the Fall Classic in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Matches that weekend will be televised that weekend on The Rugby Network. Arizona 2nd XV will also make the trip, taking on Ohio State 2nd XV on December 7th. The Wildcats Spring schedule is set to be announced shortly.
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For the Wildcats full Fall schedule, click here.

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1st XV vs San Diego

 W 50-17

Tries: King (2), DeMassa, Berenger, Kemp, Andersson, Gerstl

Conv: Berenger- 6/7

Pen: Berenger- 1/1 

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1- Seamus McCarthy

2- Henry Langrish

3- Dalton Slaughter

4- Jacob Jaffe

5- Aidan Hendry

6- Tanner DeMassa

7- Troy Norman

8- Aiden Kemp

9- Jacob Hall

10- Saxon Gerstl

11- Jake Schumacher

12- Sintu Mjali

13- Mattox King

14- Antonio Gonzalez

15- Matteo Berenger (C)

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16- Aidan McCarthy

17- Liam Swanson

18- Isaac Morrill

19- Pacific Smiley

20- Andreas Andersson

21- Lucas Smith

22- Charley Redknapp

23- Van Hampton

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