Article by Erik Geib, Men's Club Representative With three weekends to play before the 2016 Frontier Conference Championships, the playoff picture for the Men's Division 2 and Men's Division 3 competitions is coming into focus.
MEN'S DIVISION 2 Following a 44-6 victory over the Denver Harlequins in Grand Junction, the Provo Steelers remain atop the standings in Men's D2 with 46 league points (PTS). Provo can clinch a spot in the playoffs with a single league point (PTS) in its final match versus Glendale on April 23. If Provo can secure 5 league points (PTS) in that match, it can assure itself the #1 seed in the playoffs and a trophy for being regular season champions. Also in Grand Junction, the Glendale Raptors won a critical match over Park City Haggis, 32-29. The win puts the Raptors back into the thick of things, but it has two huge matches remaining - both against playoff contenders. If Glendale can win out, and deny Boulder a bonus point in doing so, it controls its own destiny. The loss to Glendale puts Park City Haggis in a difficult position, but not an impossible one. The defending RMR D2 champions can still secure a playoff berth with a win over the Denver Harlequins and the right results in other matches. Park City's best-case scenario is a late-season collapse for Boulder and a Provo victory over Glendale. However, should Boulder and Park City finish tied - and the same number of wins - Park City also holds the tiebreaker over Boulder. For Boulder, making the playoffs is a simpler equation: win out, and control its own destiny. Boulder doesn't need anyone else to lose as long as it keeps winning, and it still has a good shot at a playoff berth even if it stumbles once. Though Boulder cruised to a big victory over Colorado Springs last weekend (60-17), it has a huge match against the Raptors this coming weekend at Infinity Park South. A win there will virtually cripple the Raptors, and put Boulder only 5-6 points (PTS) away from the playoffs with two games to go. After this weekend, Boulder has an April 23 match with the Barbarians and a make-up match with the fifth-place Harlequins to play. Despite sitting at 4-6 overall, the Denver Harlequins could play a major role as spoiler, with two matches to play against contenders. The Harlequins' record doesn't reflect their talent, and the Quins only have a -7 overall points differential (PD) for the year despite some struggles to close out wins. Provo Steelers: 11 GP, 46 PTS | 4.18 PTS/GM | MAX: 51 PTS Boulder Rugby: 9 GP, 35 PTS | 3.89 PTS/GM | MAX: 50 PTS Glendale Raptors D2: 10 GP, 36 PTS | 3.60 PTS/GM | MAX: 46 PTS Park City Haggis: 11 GP, 39 PTS | 3.55 PTS/GM | MAX: 44 PTS Important games remaining (Men's D2): April 16 - Glendale Raptors D2 vs. Boulder Rugby April 23 - Provo Steelers vs. Glendale Raptors D2 April 23 - Park City Haggis vs. Denver Harlequins April 23 - Boulder Rugby vs. Denver Barbarians April 30* - Boulder Rugby vs. Denver Harlequins *April 30 is the assumed make-up date. The match may take place any time between now and May 1, however. MEN'S DIVISION 3 With Queen City's 85-12 victory over the Northside Marauders, City clinches a spot in the RMR Men's Division 3 Championship against their crosstown rivals, the Denver Highlanders. The Highlanders have already clinched the top seed and will host on either April 30 or May 1. Both clubs still have matches to play against Littleton, but those matches will technically give each team 5 points according to league rules. Littleton's inability to field a team properly in the Fall means that though it can win on paper, and put points towards a Centennial Cup championship, it can't technically take points (PTS) away from either Queen City or the Highlanders in their final matches. The Glendale Raptors' third squad, despite a late run, is technically eliminated. The Raptors lost their opportunity over two consecutive weekends, losing first to the Highlanders 27-5 on March 19, and then Queen City 63-24 the following weekend (March 26).
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.
In a weekend of D2 blowouts, the Division 3 match-up between the Northern Colorado Flamingos and the Denver Harlequins' D3 (Reserve) side was the featured match of the weekend.
Despite scoring the first and last tries of the match, the Harlequins couldn't overcome the pace and speed of the Flamingos, who were led by a 19-point, 3-try effort from center Stephen Vigil. Vigil is a recent Colorado State alum who was also part of the CSU 7s program's success the past few years. The match result means that Queen City largely remains in the driver's seat in Division 3, with a win in hand over Northern Colorado. An October 25 showdown between the Harlequins and Rams will likely determine how much of a gap Queen City is able to maintain going into the Spring season. In Division 2, both PRP reservist groups produced unfavorable results in their away games against Utah-based opposition. The 2014 D2 Champion Glendale Raptors fell to 2014 Runners-Up Park City by a margin of 53-28, while the Denver Barbarians' D2 group was unable to match the power of a savvy Provo Steelers side, falling 43-10. Elswhere in D2, Boulder Rugby finally put together a complete performance in its 48-17 handling of the Gentlemen of Aspen, and an intercity battle between the Denver Highlanders and Denver Harlequins saw a 22-11 victory go the Highlanders' way. The wins by both groups keeps the D2 playoff push loaded with parity, as only Aspen has failed to get a win on the season. As it stands today, every team still has an excellent chance at securing a spot in the Rocky Mountain Championships, to be held May 2-3. Division 2 Results: Boulder Rugby 48-17 Gentlemen of Aspen Denver Harlequins 11-22 Denver Highlanders Provo Steelers 43-10 Denver Barbarians D2 Park City Haggis 53-28 Glendale Raptors D2 Division 3 Results: Denver Harlequins D3 31-38 Northern Colorado Flamingos Colorado Rush 0(F)-20 Queen City Rams 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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