This weekend brings a host of high-quality rugby to the Rocky Mountains, including a rematch of the 2014 WPL Championship and the always-scintillating local derby between the Glendale Raptors and Denver Barbarians at Glendale's Infinity Park stadium.
In November 2014, the Glendale Raptors (women) defeated the reigning (2013) WPL champions, the Twin Cities Amazons, in a classic match at Life University's Championship Rugby Field in Marietta, Georgia. Down 10-8 at halftime, the Raptors stormed back with the guidance of WPL MVP Hannah Stolba to eke out a 16-15 victory that was only secure when an Amazons' conversion attempt fell short with one minute remaining. This weekend's friendly rematch will serve as the stadium opener at 1:00 PM. Following that match, the 2014 PRP Finalist Glendale Raptors men's squad will take on the historic local powerhouse Denver Barbarians at 3:00 PM. Matches between these sides are usually the best men's rugby matches each year in Colorado. This year, Glendale and Denver enter the match sitting 2nd and 6th (respectively), after each squad struggled early on the road. With momentum now behind them, and fewer trips to California remaining, each side is capable of ending the weekend in the PRP's top two with a victory. Elsewhere in the Rockies, the Men's Small College (NSCRO) Frontier Conference playoffs will take place at Infinity Park South and the University of Denver, and the premier division of men's collegiate rugby, Division 1A, resumes with high-profile matches between New Mexico and Colorado, as well as Colorado State and Air Force. Be sure to check out these matches live to support your local rugby community! Saturday, March 7 Pacific Rugby Premiership 3:00 PM - Infinity Park | Glendale Raptors vs. Denver Barbarians Women's Premier League Friendly 1:00 PM - Infinity Park | Glendale Raptors vs. Twin Cities Amazons Men's College Division 1A 1:00 PM - University Field | New Mexico vs. Colorado 1:00 PM - Colorado State Rugby Field | Colorado State vs. Air Force Men's Club Division 2 1:00 PM - Infinity Park South | Glendale Raptors D2 vs. Denver Barbarians D2 Men's Small College (NSCRO) Frontier Conference Playoffs - Champions Cup Semi-Finals 3:00 PM - Infinity Park South | New Mexico Highlands vs. Western State 4:30 PM - Infinity Park South | Denver vs. Colorado School of Mines Men's Small College (NSCRO) Frontier Conference Playoffs - Challenge Cup Semi-Finals 6:00 PM - University of Denver Rugby Field | Colorado - Colorado Springs vs. Northern Colorado 7:30 PM - University of Denver Rugby Field | Colorado Mesa vs. Red Rocks Men's Club & College Friendlies 9:00 AM - Infinity Park South | Queen City Rams vs. Denver Highlanders 3:30 PM - Parkfield Lake Park | Denver Harlequins vs. Northern Colorado Flamingos 4:30 PM - Williams Field | Northside Marauders vs. Colorado Springs Grizzlies 7:00 PM - Washburn Stadium | Colorado College vs. Colorado State - Pubelo Women's Club & College Friendlies 11:00 AM - Infinity Park South | Glendale Raptors II vs. Colorado State Sunday, March 8 Women's Club Division 1 1:00 PM - Dick's Sporting Goods Park #8 | Denver Black Ice vs. Chicago North Shore Men's Small College (NSCRO) Frontier Conference Playoffs - Champions Cup Final 10:00 AM - University of Denver Rugby Field | TBD vs. TBD Men's Small College (NSCRO) Frontier Conference Playoffs - Challenge Cup Final 12:00 PM - University of Denver Rugby Field| TBD vs. TBD Women's Club & College Friendlies 1:00 PM - Red Rocks Rugby Field | Colorado College vs. Red Rocks
The red-hot start to the Colorado Springs Grizzlies’ season finally cooled to a simmer, as the Denver Harlequins traveled downstate and emerged victorious, 15-12. An early, 3rd-minute try from slippery Springs scrumhalf Travis Carrasquillo was not enough to rattle the Harlequins’ resolve, as they responded in form with tries from 8-man Sosefa Vitapa and fullback Kregg Hyer in the 14th and 33rd minutes (respectively). Taking a 12-7 lead into halftime, the Peter Borlase-coached Quins knew they needed to maintain pressure to pick up a much-needed win. A penalty kick (PK) by Thomas Oliver in the 47th minute extended the Denver lead to 15-7, but a bursting try from Grizzly wing Nicholas Rosales brought the Springs within 3 points with 15 minutes to play. Unfortunately for the Grizzlies, the Harlequins’ defense held firm, and the low-scoring affair reflected both sides’ standing as the top two defenses in the league. Elsewhere in the Rockies, the Gentlemen of Aspen moved into the win column during their third match of the season, with a 38-36 barnburning victory over the Denver Highlanders. The Aspen back-three accounted for 33 of 38 points on the day, and flyhalf Daryl Furlong was sensational in directing his club around the pitch. Despite a 6-try effort from the gutsy Highlanders, the boot of Aspen wing Cyle Bilger appeared to be the difference, as the Gentlemen converted all five of their tries, with Bilger picking up a PK as well. Wiehan Pretorius and Garrett Lincoln also bagged a pair of tries each. The Provo Steelers made their first trip across the mountains this year, falling to the Glendale Raptors’ D2 squad, 52-17. Traveling light, the Steelers displayed much heart in pushing the Raptors around the pitch, particularly dominating in the scrum, but they were unable to overcome the incredible pace and skill of Glendale’s outer backs. For Provo, center combination Misi Tukia (2) and Etu Lavulavu accounted for all three of the Steeler tries, while Glendale’s sensational backline grouping of Rohan Fenton (3 tries), Kleslie Alovili (1 try), Kyle Harris (1 try), and Nathan Fa'amatuainu (1 try, 6 conversions) helped the Raptors put in their first complete performance of the season. In Division 3 action, the Glendale third side raced past the Northside Marauders, a second-year club from the northern Denver suburbs, by a score of 88-0. The Glendale D3 squad had previously forfeited two matches for playing too many players, so the result gets the Raptors back into the hunt for the Rocky Mountain GU’s only D3 playoff spot. Next week will see a massive Division 3 clash between the Denver Harlequins D3 team and the Queen City Rams, as well as an opportunity for Glendale D3 to keep its momentum going against a physical Northern Colorado Flamingos squad. In the final Division 2 match of the Fall, Boulder Rugby will also travel down to Denver for their second encounter of the season with the Denver Harlequins. Boulder won the previous encounter this season, 15-11, and this match will give one club or the other a distinct advantage in securing a spot in the 2015 Rocky Mountain Championship weekend. Held May 2-3, the 2015 Rocky Mountain Championship will involve the top two teams from Division 2 competing for the #1 seed in the Frontier Conference playoffs. The loser of that match will be forced to play the winner of the #3 vs. #4 match (also May 2), on Sunday, May 3, for the right to the #2 seed in the Frontier Conference playoffs. To be held May 16-17, the Frontier Conference playoffs are the de facto USA Rugby Round of 32 and Round of 16 events, with the champion of the event heading into the USA Rugby National Quarter-Finals on May 30. Division 2 Results | October 18, 2014 Colorado Springs Grizzlies 12-15 Denver Harlequins Gentlemen of Aspen 38-36 Denver Highlanders Glendale Raptors D2 52-17 Provo Steelers Division 3 Results | October 18, 2014 Colorado Rush 0(F)-20 Denver Harlequins D3 Glendale Raptors D3 88-0 Northside Marauders Men's Division 2 Standings | October 19, 2014 Men's Division 3 Standings | October 19, 2014 The Rocky Mountain Rugby Union is a geographic union within USA Rugby that encompasses one of the nation's most historic rugby-playing areas. Rocky Mountain member clubs have captured 21 national championships, including 11 at the Men's Senior Club Elite / Division 1 level. Overall, Rocky Mountain teams have appeared in 42 national championship finals since 1979, when USA Rugby first began conducting national championships. The union currently consists of 17 senior men's teams, 4 senior women's teams, 17 collegiate men's teams, and 11 collegiate women's teams.
The Rocky Mountain men's senior club season continued into October this past weekend, with several large match-ups on tap. In Division 2 play, Boulder Rugby continued its unfortunate streak of close losses, with Colorado Springs holding off a second-half rally to defeat their opponents, 27-26. For the Grizzlies, it was their 4th consecutive victory, continuing their hot start to the season after a lackluster 2013-2014 campaign. Colorado Springs #8 Matthew Woerner scored two tries in the match, extending his scoring try-scoring streak to 4 games. Elsewhere in the Front Range, historic Observatory Park was once again home to high-thrill rugby action. Formerly the site of two USA Rugby test matches (1991 vs. France; 1992 vs. Canada), the park saw 2014 national playoff participants Park City Haggis battle past the Denver Barbarians' reserve squad. The men from Utah prevailed 48-41, but the Barbarians' effort was not lost on the day as the squad garnered two critical points in the standings. Continuing their Colorado road trip into Sunday, Haggis also squared off with the Denver Highlanders in a clash between last year's second- and third-place teams. Despite an early lead, and a clear penalty advantage, the Highlanders couldn't quell a late Park City rally that resulted in a Haggis win, 26-21. Park City moves to 3-0 for the season, and remains one of only 2 undefeated teams in the parity-laced, 9-team Division 2 competition. In Division 3, the Fort Collins-based Northern Colorado Flamingos cruised past the visiting Northside Marauders, 50-7. The Flamingos were relegated out of Division 2 last season, and are finding their form in Division 3 while recruiting and rebuilding. The Marauders, meanwhile, continue to turn in a series of gutsy performances despite being founded just last summer. The weekend of October 11 will continue to thrill rugby participants and fans in the Rockies, with several more big games to be played. Starting the weekend in Division 2, the Gentlemen of Aspen will make their way up to Boulder, reigniting a rivalry that goes back over 40 years. For Aspen, the match will mark their second game since returning from a 3-year competitive hiatus. For Boulder, the game is a big home match, and a chance to finally play a complete, 80-minute match. In a rematch of last year's Western Championship, the Glendale Raptors D2 squad will travel to Utah to take on Park City Haggis. The two squads were neck-and-neck last year, giving the region some of the best matches it's seen outside of the PRP. Despite some early season struggles from the Raptors, it is expected that the match will be a thrilling contest for fans in the greater Salt Lake City area. Also traveling to Utah is the reserves of another PRP squad, the Denver Barbarians. The Barbos travel to Provo for what will surely be a physical demonstration against the Provo Steelers. Both teams are renowned for their hard style of play, and both clubs are looking to sort their standing in the league after close losses to Park City. The Denver Harlequins will host the Denver Highlanders at Cook Park, with both teams needing a big win to reignite their seasons. Currently sitting in 8th and 7th place (respectively), the winner of the Harlequins-Highlanders match has a chance to climb as high as 3rd or 4th in one week. The curtain-raiser to the showdown features the Denver Harlequins D3 team competing against the Northern Colorado Flamingos. The winner of that match has a chance to take first place in Division 3, and will most assuredly be no lower than second after the weekend. In other D3 action, league-leaders Queen City will take the field against the Colorado Rush in a Denver city showcase. The Rams hope to extend their winning streak and remain atop the leaderboard, while the Rush look to notch their first win of the season. Men's Division 2 Standings | October 5, 2014 Men's Division 3 Standings | October 5, 2014 The Rocky Mountain Rugby Union is a geographic union within USA Rugby that encompasses one of the nation's most historic rugby-playing areas. Rocky Mountain member clubs have captured 21 national championships, including 11 at the Men's Senior Club Elite / Division 1 level. Overall, Rocky Mountain teams have appeared in 42 national championship finals since 1979, when USA Rugby first began conducting national championships. The union currently consists of 17 senior men's teams, 4 senior women's teams, 17 collegiate men's teams, and 11 collegiate women's teams.
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