STEAMBOAT SPRINGS - The Gentlemen of the Blue Goose Rugby Club left last weekend's Ski Town Tournament in Steamboat under bittersweet circumstances.

The Breckenridge-based club shook the veritable monkey off its back in the tournament opener by pulling out a 17-12 victory over Aspen - a team that's had Breck's number for years.

"It's been a long time since we beat them," said Goose coach Peter Shafroth, who took the helm in 2003. "It was definitely before I was the coach."

After dispatching Crested Butte, 35-0, the Goose suffered a 17-13 semifinal loss to Vail, a team it hasn't beat since 1996.

"It was a real shame," recalled Shafroth by phone on Thursday. "We had the lead with under 2 minutes left and one of our own mistakes cost us the game."

Clinging to a three-point lead near the end of the contest, the Goose had a scrum inside its own 25-yard line. Instead of taking a conservative approach, the local ruggers attempted an outside pass, which was intercepted and promptly returned for a try.

"We should have kicked the ball upfield or stuck to our rucking game," Shafroth said. "We had been rucking well all day."

Vail went on to lose to Steamboat in the tournament finals, following its dramatic victory over the Goose.

Shafroth, who credited Joe Pizzi, Cameron Chapman and Braden Shoop for their standout performances in Steamboat, said that his team had a successful showing overall.

The Gentlemen's record stands at 6-6 with one game remaining - a clash with the Defiance next weekend in Glenwood Springs. The Goose, which finished 8-8 last summer, defeated Glenwood, 31-24, June 9 in Breckenridge.



Adam Boffey can be contacted at (970) 668-4634, or at aboffey@summitdaily.com.