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Fresh off its second consecutive win of the Cow Pie Classic Rugby Tournament, the Steamboat Rugby Club now has a chance to avenge a loss from earlier in the year.

Steamboat (6-2) plays Breckenridge at 3 p.m. today at Whistler Field.

It will be the first game on Whistler Field since the area underwent improvements.

"Basically we weren't switched on to play," Steamboat captain Michael Hurley said of the 47-21 loss Steamboat suffered to Breckenridge earlier this year. "A lot of guys showed up and thought we could just beat them like we had in the previous three or four years. They outplayed us and wanted to win more."

Hurley doesn't expect a similar result today.

Two of the main factors for the earlier loss was Steamboat's lackluster performance on defense and inability to tackle.

Hurley said with a few lineup changes and more intensity, the Steamboat defense has become one of the strengths of the team.

A prime example was in the finals of the Cow Pie, when Steamboat didn't allow Vail to score a try.

"We're coming back off of a tournament win," he said. "We've got our momentum back. We're in a groove after winning the Cow Pie, but we still have to remember Breckenridge is a much stronger team than they've been in the past."

Hurley expects a good game, citing Glenwood squeaking by Breckenridge and Steamboat barely beating Glenwood in the Cow Pie.

"We're just starting to get it put together," Hurley said. "The key to our victory on the weekend was defense because we think the offense takes care of itself."

While Hurley will again be out this week because of a wrist injury, he said Collins Akwanyi was an excellent fill-in.

He also pointed to the efforts of locals Eric Wernig and Charlie Pappas for their strong play.

"We're expecting big things out of them over the weekend," Hurley said.

- To reach Luke Graham, call 871-4229 or e-mail lgraham@steamboatpilot.com