Winning on the Road

The Ardvarks are ready to compete

by JACK JACKSON

Shouts of celebration rang out as the Albuquerque Aardvark rugby club secured its spot for the national championship tournament once again.

“The day was ours,” said aardvark team captain Christian Diazdeboya.

The Aardvarks just returned from playing in the Division Two National Westerns Championship in Dallas, Texas this weekend. There the Aardvarks defeated Shreveport, Louisiana giving them a seat in the national playoffs.

The Aardvarks had a successful season last year with their first taste of the national championships in Aardvark history.

“We played some of our best games last year,” Adam Trubow, fly half for Aardvarks said, “We are going to be national champs this year.”

This season the team has been practicing regularly and has taken on some new talent. Brandon Hadley, new to Albuquerque, has shown himself to be a force on the field.

“It’s awesome that I found a squad so dedicated so quickly,” Hadley said. “I thought I wouldn’t get to play for a while coming out here from Wisconsin.”

"Everyone on the team has been improving their skills on the field recently," Diazdeboya said.

The reason for this was possibly the build up of anticipation but something is to be said for an alteration in coaching.

Ian Jones of Wales, England is the coach for the University of New Mexico’s rugby team.

Jones decided to work with the Aardvarks toward the national championship after the UNM season ended.

“It’s great that Ian came to help us get ready,” Diazdeboya. “The man is a wealth of knowledge.”

“I see a potential in the team, ya?” Jones said. “I love the game you know and it’s good to work at a goal right.”

Jones said the Aardvarks had a tough season of preparation. The games preceding this tournament consisted of three Division I teams from Colorado

“The Division I teams, they have been playing are high on the ladder each year at nationals,” Jones said. “The high level of competition has pushed them to be ready for the games ahead.”

Assistant coach Larry Spurgeon said that he hasn’t seen the Aardvarks this prepared in years.

“I’m looking forward to the rugby this weekend,” Spurgeon said. “We’re down a couple players but we are OK with some new talent. We look strong, I think.”

Looking for a win
The team left early Friday morning on its long journey to Texas to play for a spot at the national tournament in May.

The team arrived in Dallas around 7 p.m. and checked into the Marriot hotel. The players settled into there rooms before the team meeting.
The space was an interesting issue because the team had only booked three suits and there were close to 30 players that came to the tournament. David Auge, a captain on the squad addressed this.

“It is sometimes close quarters on these trips but we are like a family,” Auge said “It doesn’t bother the Varks much.”
The players all migrated back to the lobby to get the rundown for the next day of play. At the meeting the coaches emphasized the importance of concentration and discipline on the trip.

“We’re here for business, ya?” Jones said. “I want you boys thinking of your game in your rooms, not the pub, ya?”

The team laughed out loud in the hotel lobby and drowned out the noise of anything else that was happening. It was obvious the connection between the good timers in the squad.

The meeting continued and the agenda was given. The game would be against Shreveport in the heat of the day.

The team settled for the night and retreated to its rooms.

“I want them to get all the rest they can,” said team captain Diazdeboya. “They will need it tomorrow for sure.”

Call time for breakfast was seven a.m. The players began to arrive and seat themselves. The tone of the room was contemplative, each player concentrating on his assignment.

“Not to much food boys,” Jones said “I want you light on your feet today.”

After a quick bite the Aardvarks left to get the gear for the game.

The two Black Suburbans that had been rented for the trip were waiting for the team to piled in to head for the field.

At the field people were everywhere. Teams having played games and teams there for new ones commingle in a mesh of different uniforms.

Typical warm ups for the team began and it was clear that the players were chomping at the bit to get to the game.

“I’m so ready to hit today” said long-time member of the Aardvarks, Demetrio Cardiel.

Cardiel is 47 and has been playing for 25 years.

“I’ll do anything to keep playing,” Cardiel said. “It lets me know I’m alive.”

Ready to play
The Aardvarks took their positions on the field and Shreveport opposite them were looking also hungry for the trip to nationals.

The Aardvarks kicked and for the next 80 minutes the two teams waged a ravenous war on each other. Every minute of the game there were big hits and exciting plays. The Aardvarks would run away seemingly untouched only to be chased down many times for dramatic goal saving scenes by Shreveport.

In the last minutes of the game with the score still a modest 15-14 Aardvarks lead, Shreveport’s fate was sealed with one last break-away run by the Aardvarks for a score.

Jones said that he was very pleased with the discipline the team showed on the field.

“The boys can really know now that they can play well and hard,” Jones said “Now there are no excuses, ya?”

Tears stream down the face of club team member Demetrio Cardiel.

“I’ve been playing this game for 24 years and I’m finally going to the national championship,” Cardiel said.

The road ahead for the Aardvarks promises to be a struggle but for some just the chance to struggle is enough.

Written May 1, 2008

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