Originally published at pacificrugbypremiership.com The Denver Barbarians got their season underway in San Francisco after having a bye in the first week of the season and they nearly started it by knocking off the defending champions. However, a strong team effort from SFGG, particularly in the second half, saw them emerge with a narrow 22-20 come from behind victory.
In a match that featured both teams slugging it out in wet conditions it took awhile for someone to score but it was Denver that was rewarded first when wing Elliott Dillon-Herzog scored just before the 20 minute mark. Fullback Max De Achaval would make the conversion and the Barbarians would led 7-0. Less than 10 minutes later SFGG were able to tie the score as flanker Opeti Okusi crossed over and Volney Rouse converted. Still, it was the Barbarians that would be on the front foot in the half with De Achaval notching a penalty with nine minutes remaining in the half and then at the stroke of halftime to give the Barbarians a 13-7 advantage at the break. The second half saw SFGG regroup and seven minutes in Seamus Kelly would score on his starting debut for the club. Rouse would miss the conversion but would pick a penalty to give SFGG their first lead of the match. Dillon-Herzog would add his second try of the day and De Achaval his third conversion to restore the lead to Denver at 20-15 but a try from Bubba Jones with less than ten minutes remaining and the conversion by Rouse would seal the win for Golden Gate. As SFGG head coach Mark Giacheri noted after the match he was happy with the result but not the way his team played. Despite the loss Denver have to be happy with the effort they put out on the pitch, especially in difficult conditions on the road in their first match of the season. Up next for SFGG is a rematch of last year’s final as Glendale visit Treasure Island. Denver will head to L.A. to face Santa Monica. As you would expect from two teams expecting to contend for a title this season Saturday’s match between OMBAC and Glendale was a tight affair full of great rugby. There was little separating the two on the day except for the scoring of Zach Pangelinan as last year’s MVP led OMBAC to a 24-13 victory.
Due to the weather in Colorado, Glendale hadn’t had a chance to play a warm-up match before heading to San Diego while OMBAC had the opportunity to play the SoCal DI opponents, St. Mary’s and others. That played to OMBAC’s advantage early as Pangelinan kicked a penalty to put OMBAC up 3-0. Still, it wouldn’t last as Dustin Croy showed some quick pace to put Glendale up 5-3 after Mike Graham missed the conversion. The first half was a back and forth affair and a little while after Croy had put Glendale ahead Pangelinan hit another penalty to put OMBAC up 6-5. Graham would then answer for Glendale to restore the advantage at 8-6. Pangelinan would make one more penalty to bring the halftime score to 9-8 in favor of OMBAC. The second half wasn’t nearly as back and forth as the first. Pangelinan found an early gap for OMBAC and went the distance for the try to make it 16-8 after he hit his own conversion. OMBAC then widened the lead with a driving line out maul converted by new hooker Adam Clarkin to make it 21-8. Glendale pressed hard to get back into the game and crossed the line via Josh Sutcliffe to make it 21-13 but OMBAC responded with an attack that resulted in a penalty where Pangelinan added to his point total of 19 to make the final score on the day 24-13 for OMBAC. Article by Bruce Thomas | Originally published at pacificrugbypremiership.com This season Canterbury renews its partnership with the Pacific Rugby Premiership, becoming the official jersey supplier to each of the seven teams in the league. Robbie Flynn (CEO Canterbury North America) states, “This year the brand launches a new global tagline: “Committed To The Game”. Our partnership with the PRP encapsulates this perfectly. We are committed to helping the PRP build a platform of elite rugby here in the US, giving players a competitive schedule that will raise the level of not only the clubs but help feed the national team.”
Licensed supporters jerseys will be available to purchase online through canterburyus.com and worldrugbyshop.com from January 23, 2015. For more information about the PRP-Canterbury agreement, please visit pacificrugbypremiership.com |
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