Men's Club Division 2:
Boulder Rugby 18-37 Glendale Raptors D2 Park City Haggis 20-0 Provo Steelers Denver Harlequins 22-37 Denver Barbarians D2 Men's Club Division 3: Denver Highlanders 57-14 Denver Harlequins D3 Glendale Raptors D3 12-56 Colorado Springs Grizzlies Men's Club Division 4: Colorado Rush 7-91 Colorado Springs Grizzlies D4 Boulder Rugby D4 69-31 Marauders Rugby Laramie Lumberjacks 57-12 Queen City Rams D4 Littleton Eagles 20-0 Colorado Stags Men's College Division 2: Colorado Mines 46-10 UCCS Air Force B 43-34 Metro State Colorado Mesa 22-43 Colorado College Men's Club/College Friendlies Colorado Mines B 8-50 Littleton Eagles Women's Premier League (Club): Glendale Raptors 28-26 San Diego Surfers Women's College Division 1 Air Force 66-10 Colorado Women's College Division 2 Colorado Mesa 92-5 Colorado College Wyoming NR-NR Colorado Mines Women's Club/College Friendlies Glendale B 37-7 San Diego Surfers B Air Force B 32-7 Colorado Mines B Black Ice NR-NR Regis Despite the ballyhooed cries from critics on their unconventional run to a national championship in the fall, and the haste departure of their coach, the Glendale Raptors appear to be unscathed in the early weeks of the spring season.
In a rematch unbefitting of a tense national championship game that ended 16-15, they made short work of the Twin Cities Amazons in the not-so exciting sequel. Joanna Kitlinski scored twice and Rachel Ryan added another as the Raptors beat the Amazons 51-17 on Saturday at Infinity Park. First-time WPL players Denali Graham and Fatima Chavez also added scores in the win. “We had good play by veterans and some new players to us,” Raptors coach Mark Bullock said. “You want to see what you have everywhere on our roster and I think we got a good idea.” Even with offseason questions about their unconventional road to a national championship and the sudden resignation of former Coach Michael Fealey hanging over them, the Raptors have looked just fine in the opening weeks of the developmental season. They won the Champagne Classic Women’s Rugby Tournament to start the season and continued their torrid start by outscoring the Amazons 41-7 in the second half on Saturday. Bullock said the faster his team played, the better they got. “We had a conversation at halftime about picking up the pace of the game,” Raptors coach Mark Bullock said. “We want to play fast, and knew if we could, we could create some difficulties for them.” Ryan clobbered through the Amazons defense and put Glendale up 15-10 in the opening minutes of the second half. Molly Kinsella and Graham scored on back-to-back possessions to push the lead to 37-17. And Kitlinski scored her second try of the day to give the Raptors the 44-17 advantage soon after. “We played with good intensity and started playing the way we’ve practiced,” Bullock said. “It was good to see.” The Raptors host the Black Ice on Saturday, May 14th at 11 a.m. on the turf field at Infinity Park, which is free to the public. Saturday, March 7
Pacific Rugby Premiership Glendale Raptors 35-21 Denver Barbarians Women's Premier League Friendly Glendale Raptors 51-17 Twin Cities Amazons Men's College Division 1A Colorado 31-5 New Mexico Colorado State 34-5 Air Force Men's Club Division 2 Denver Barbarians D2 33-29 Glendale Raptors D2 Men's Small College (NSCRO) Frontier Conference Playoffs - Champions Cup Semi-Finals New Mexico Highlands 73-5 Western State Colorado School of Mines 31-22 Denver Men's Small College (NSCRO) Frontier Conference Playoffs - Challenge Cup Semi-Finals Northern Colorado 50-14 Colorado - Colorado Springs Red Rocks 31-10 Colorado Mesa Men's Club & College Friendlies Queen City Rams NR Denver Highlanders (scrimmage also played with Glendale) Denver Harlequins vs. Northern Colorado Flamingos Colorado Springs Grizzlies 54-5 Northside Marauders Colorado College 43-0 Colorado State - Pubelo Women's Club & College Friendlies Glendale Raptors II 29-14 Colorado State Sunday, March 8 Women's Club Division 1 Twin Cities Amazons 36-15 Denver Black Ice Men's Small College (NSCRO) Frontier Conference Playoffs - Champions Cup Final New Mexico Highlands 46-27 Colorado School of Mines Men's Small College (NSCRO) Frontier Conference Playoffs - Challenge Cup Final Northern Colorado 41-20 Red Rocks Women's Club & College Friendlies Colorado College vs. Red Rocks 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 Still swimming in euphoria, the reigning Women’s Premier League Champion Glendale Raptors returned to action for the first time since November.
Their pending opponents were not as excited. The Raptors perched atop the podium after the two-day Champagne Classic Women’s Rugby Tournament in San Diego, Calif., having beat up on the rest of the Competitive side of the field with five successive wins. Rachel Ryan and Joanna Kitlinski scored against the Texas Valkyries to seal their team's fate in the finals game on Saturday. “It’s nice to get back with the team and start piecing things together,” Ryan said. “It was a great way to start. We had two players get their first trys and we played well as a team.” They also beat the Berkeley All Blues and San Francisco Golden Gate on their side of the bracket. While tournament host San Diego Surfers won the other side to grab the title in the Social Bracket. For the Raptors, the spring season continues on Saturday with a rematch of the WPL title game as they host the Twin Cities Amazons at 1 p.m. at Infinity Park. Of course, this time will is far different than the former. It’s been almost three months since Glendale edged the Amazons 16-15 in the title game and this happens to be the non-competitive spring season. The Raptors, however, say their mindset won't flinch. “We still want to go out and win every game,” Ryan said. “Yes, the season is more about preparing for the WPL season. But we still want to win. That’s always the goal.” Article by Alex Solomon | Originally published at USA Rugby MARIETTA, Ga. – The Glendale Raptors denied Twin Cities a second consecutive Women’s Premiere League title by defeating the Amazons 16-15 and claiming the 2014 Emirates Airline USA Rugby WPL National Championship.
Twin Cities carried over their stellar Day 1 play with positive offensive phases early in the Final. The momentum led to a seventh-minute try by lock Tiffany Gjestvang that went unconverted. Glendale looked to tie game following Gjestvang’s score with a try of their own, but the Amazons were able to hold up a diving attempt just beyond the end line, and the ball was brought back out to the five-meter mark. Glendale would eventually get on the board via the boot of Eagle fly half Hannah Stolba. The successful penalty attempt midway through the first half seemed to settle the nerves of the Raptors. Glendale continued to attack within the Amazons own half, but sturdy defense led by flanker Lynelle Kugler prevented the Raptors from taking the lead. A timely kick by Sylvia Braaten put the Amazons in positive field position and the defending champions would eventually earn a lineout deep in the opposition’s side of the pitch. After winning the lineout, Twin Cities would score a team try by pushing over the try line with hooker Jamie Zarembinksi being credited for the five points, which gave the Zons a 10-3 advantage. Just when it looked like Twin Cities would head into intermission with the 7-point lead, Glendale cut into that advantage with multiple wide passes to one end of the field putting Andrea Prunsinksi away for a try. Entering the second half down 10-11, Glendale did not waste any time taking its first lead of the WPL Final. Once again, it was the trusty foot of Stolba that slotted a penalty through the uprights putting the Denver-based side ahead 11-10. The Amazons looked to be on the verge of regaining the lead, as Glendale failed to relieve themselves of pressure deep in their own territory. The Raptors did, however, manage to patiently keep possession long enough for Joanna Kitlinksi to make a dashing break through the heart of the defense, chugging her way across the 50-meter line. Steady phase-play would eventually put the ball in Stolba’s hands and the Smith and Forge MVP stepped two Amazons defenders before diving in for a try and a 16-10 lead. The failed conversion kept the game in a one-possession balance, giving life to the unflappable Amazons side. Back on the attack, winger Kaelene Lundstrum was able to scoop up an inaccurate offload by Katana Howard and score a try with only two minutes left to play. Down just one point, the conversion fell short to keep the score 16-15 in favor of Glendale. The Amazons kept possession following Stolba’s restart, and played to their strength by keeping the ball in the forwards’ hands in the middle of the pitch. A yellow card sent a Raptor off the field for the final possession, giving further life to the desperate Amazons who continued to maintain the ball through the full six minutes past expired time. With both teams showing fatigue, Glendale mustered the strength to successfully counter ruck over the ball to create a turnover and subsequently kick the ball into touch sounding the final whistle. Celebration would ensue for the Raptors and their well-deserved 2014 WPL National Championship title. In the day’s earlier action, Berkeley out-muscled Atlanta to claim third place in the final WPL standings. The All Blues jumped out to an early 10-0 lead that proved too much for the Harlequins to overcome. In the battle for fifth place, San Diego’s Kayla Roth’s two-try performance led the Surfers to a 29-14 victory over Oregon Sports Union, while the D.C. Furies were able to avoid a winless weekend with a 27-13 win against New York which saw fly half Lauren Rhode record 12 points via two penalty kicks and three conversions. Final 2014 Women’s Premier League Standings: 1) Glendale Raptors 2) Twin Cities Amazons 3) Berkeley All Blues 4) Atlanta Harlequins 5) San Diego Surfers 6) Oregon Sports Union 7) D.C. Furies 8) New York Rugby Club |
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