All-BARBO SIDE PLAY WITH PRIDE AT RUGGERFEST
Center Hunter Pratski going full gorilla
Weekend Report by John Warner
Your Denver Barbarians put forward a valiant effort to defend last year’s Championship at the 58th Aspen Ruggerfest Tournament, falling to a stacked and impressive home side in the Grand Final. Aspen came loaded for bear – fitting, as this year featured a historic number of sightings, including a “Bear Delay” when one of several bears napping in pitch-side trees climbed down for a leisurely stroll across Wagner. The Gentlemen, infused with international legends of the game like flyhalf Kurt Morath, a veteran of three World Cups, orchestrated several show-stopping tries that outpaced the Barbos’ best efforts for a 67-12 final.
All in attendance were treated to a dream final between the two teams who’ve hoisted the trophy more often than all other Ruggerfest winners combined. And none will forget the electric silence echoing down the Roaring Fork Valley before kickoff. At the end, the Barbos were well beaten but stood proud as the only true club side in the competition – all players being current or former Barbos.
Two generations of greatness: Father Joe and son Michael Garrity beam with Barbo pride alongside Casey Garrity (celebrating his 40th in style)
To be “the men in the arena” Sunday, the Barbos went 2-1 in pool play, with victories over Mana (17-14) and Alliance (42-10) and a loss to Rugby Player Connect (22-15). Drawing an immediate rematch with Connect in the semi-final, the Barbos asserted dominance to secure a spot in the final. On-brand, the Barbos fronted up all day with a Green and White wall of bruising gain-line defense, big shots, stifling double tackles, and urgent pursuit on any line breaks. Barbo penalties for overly aggressive play were often their opponents’ primary means of moving the ball down the rain-softened pitch.
Veterans led from the front, with Captain Alex Wormer (pictured below) and former Assistant Coach and professional player Diego Fortuny running a refreshingly stable lineout. Wormer combined with Sean Gorman and John Godinet to form a formidable back row, and Julian DeRaffele shined in the 10 shirt, showing some fresh faces his special sauce. Willing-and-able multi-positional players delivered quality versatility forward to back, supported by a bench who made their moments count on the field of dreams.
Captain Alex Wormer flies for a try – out of shot, his parents have picked the perfect back-of-try-zone spot to watch their boy bank another dream try
Notable nostalgic contributions from a group who played together in the PRP days:
Todd Oswald – steady at fullback, stout on defense, and dialed off the tee
Mitch Andrews – loves the contact
“Johnny Bill” Godinet – lives for contact
Mikey “Mucklesoup” Garrity (Eagle #478) – strong in the centers (playing through likely-broken ribs)
Steve Karas – an exceptional tournament with a yeoman’s shift of 300+ minutes across the Open and 35s divisions
Tim Hannify – returning after several years with ice in his veins to slot a game-winning 35-meter penalty kick to beat Mana in pool play
Two of the Barbos' best, Sean Gorman and Steve Karas, line up Kiwi monster Brad Hemopo
Full-spectrum BarboFam support featured some of our newest cooing additions, wonderful women, proud parents, inactive injured, and old-guard legends like stalwart enforcer Joe Garrity.
Time won the 35s and 45s titles, supported by Barbos Juan “Chile” Bialy (tour coach), Rob Moreno, Steve Karas, Jake Humphrey, and many others.
The bears weren’t the only talk of the town. Former All Blacks coach Scott “Razor” Robertson featured as the tournament celebrity, even climbing the sideline scaffolding to commentate and busting out his trademark breakdancing at the Sunday after party (despite the hospitality faux pas of filthy bar-floor conditions and dozens of phone camera lights in his face giving awkward “dance, Monkey, dance” vibes).
The tour experience left the boys frothing for a rematch with the Gents in Aspen October 3, where rosters on both sides will look markedly different. First, to bring that same physical fire to another rematch pivotal in league standings with visiting Park City Haggis Saturday, September 26 at 3p on the Infinity Park Turf.
Weekend Report by John Warner