Men's Club D2: Fall Summary

Boulder Rugby
Place: 5th (2-4-0; 13 PTS)  |  PTS/Game: 7th  |  PF/Game: 5th  |  PA/Game: 4th  |  PD/Game: 4th
10-Game PTS Projection: 22 (T-7th)

Some might argue that Boulder is the France of the Rocky Mountains - and, no, that's not because of the liberal values of the 'People's Republic.' Rather, much like the French national rugby team, you never know which Boulder squad is going to show up on any given weekend. After giving the Steelers as tight a game as a team can give them in Provo, and falling short to Colorado Springs by only 1, Boulder ran wild over Aspen and then was thoroughly defeated by the Harlequins. 

Remaining Games
March 14: Home vs. Glendale Raptors D2
March 28: Home vs. Denver Barbarians D2
April 11: Away at Park City Haggis
April 18: Home vs. Denver Highlanders

Colorado Springs Grizzlies
Place: 1st (4-1-0; 21 PTS)  |  PTS/Game: 2nd  |  PF/Game: 3rd  |  PA/Game: 2nd  |  PD/Game: 1st
10-Game PTS Projection: 42 (2nd)

The Grizzlies were the surprise team of the Fall, starting with a blistering 4-0 record and a 4-try bonus in each victory. Despite a late stumble to the Denver Harlequins, Colorado Springs is in good position to secure a place in the 2015 Rocky Mountain Championship weekend. Led by president/coach Sam McGee, and paced by fearsome #8 Matthew Woerner, the Springs sit comfortably in first place with a defense-first mentality that opponents have struggled to crack.

Remaining Games
March 14: Away at Park City Haggis
March 21: Home vs. Denver Barbarians D2
March 28: Home vs. Provo Steelers
April 11: Away at Denver Highlanders
April 18: Away at Glendale Raptors D2

Denver Barbarians D2
Place: 8th (2-3-0; 12 PTS)  |  PTS/Game: 5th  |  PF/Game: 6th  |  PA/Game: 8th  |  PD/Game: 8th
10-Game PTS Projection: 24 (5th)

The resurrection of the Barbarians' second side continued into this Fall, with the Barbos starting strong in victories over the Harlequins and Highlanders. Unfortunately, their depth began to betray them in tough home losses to league leaders Colorado Springs and Park City. The club also had a difficult road trip to Utah to take on the Provo Steelers. Expanded depth is expected this Spring as the club's top side gears up for the Pacific Rugby Premiership, and two matches with crosstown-rivals Glendale await.

Remaining Games
March 7: Away at Glendale Raptors D2
March 21: Away at Colorado Springs Grizzlies
March 28: Away at Boulder Rugby
April 11: Home vs. Glendale Raptors D2
April 18: Home vs. Gentlemen of Aspen

Denver Harlequins
Place: 3rd (3-3-0; 14 PTS)  |  PTS/Game: 6th  |  PF/Game: 9th  |  PA/Game: 1st  |  PD/Game: 6th
10-Game PTS Projection: 23 (6th)

Despite leading the league in defensive efficiency (1st in Points Against), the Harlequins' offensive woes have the club sitting in 6th in PTS/Game. The struggle to score is costing the club bonus points, and Quins' will need to either win 3 out of 4 this Spring or start picking up some bonus points (or both) to make the Rocky Mountain Championship weekend. Based on late-Fall form, this is certainly possible, as the Peter Borlase-coached Harlequins were the first to capture a win over league leaders Colorado Springs.

Remaining Games
March 14: Away at Denver Highlanders
March 21: Home vs. Park City Haggis
March 29: Home vs. Provo Steelers
April 11: Away at Gentlemen of Aspen

Denver Highlanders
Place: 6th (2-4-0; 13 PTS)  |  PTS/Game: 8th  |  PF/Game: 8th  |  PA/Game: 5th  |  PD/Game: 7th
10-Game PTS Projection: 22 (T-7th)

Recruiting will be a priority for the Highlanders over the winter break, as the Denver Highlanders accomplished a very respectable Fall campaign despite fielding very little depth. The Highlanders debatably gave undefeated Park City a better match than anyone else this year, and suffered very tight road losses to both the Barbarians and Aspen. The Highlanders' March 14th clash with the Denver Harlequins may go a long way in deciding the fate of both clubs' seasons.

Remaining Games
March 14: Home vs. Denver Harlequins
March 21: Away at Provo Steelers
April 11: Home vs. Colorado Springs Grizzlies
April 18: Away at Boulder Rugby

Gentlemen of Aspen
Place: 9th (1-2-0; 5 PTS)  |  PTS/Game: 9th  |  PF/Game: 7th  |  PA/Game: 9th  |  PD/Game: 9th
10-Game PTS Projection: 17 (9th)

Playing competitive Fall rugby for the first time in 3 years, the Gentlemen of Aspen are the league's biggest question mark. Having played only 3 matches, there is a lot of rugby left on their schedule, and Aspen appears to be getting better with every passing week. In hindsight, their opening-weekend loss to Colorado Springs doesn't look as bad as the Gentlemen originally feared (despite finishing second-to-last in the previous campaign, the Grizzlies currently lead the league), and a gutsy performance against the Highlanders may give the club the momentum it needs to keep building over the break.

Remaining Games
March 7: Away at Provo Steelers [to be confirmed]
March 8: Away at Park City Haggis [to be confirmed]
March 21: Away at Glendale Raptors D2
March 22: vs. Park City Haggis [to be confirmed; neutral site - Glendale?]
April 4: vs. Provo Steelers [to be confirmed; neutral site - Grand Junction?)]
April 11: Home vs. Denver Harlequins
April 18: Away at Denver Barbarians D2

Glendale Raptors D2
Place: 4th (2-3-0; 13 PTS)  |  PTS/Game: 4th  |  PF/Game: 2nd  |  PA/Game: 3rd  |  PD/Game: 2nd
10-Game PTS Projection: 26 (4th)

Champions of the previous three seasons (2012-2014), the Glendale Raptors D2 side has been all over the place this Fall. Despite book-ending their season with a pair of dominant wins over the Highlanders and Provo, the Raptors struggled to find form in losses to Colorado Springs, the Harlequins, and Park City Haggis. Nonetheless, the club is still projected to make the Rocky Mountain Championship weekend, and some late-Spring form could see the club as dangerous as ever.

Remaining Games
March 7: Home vs. Denver Barbarians D2
March 14: Away at Boulder Rugby
March 21: Home vs. Gentlemen of Aspen
April 11: Away at Denver Barbarians D2
April 18: Home vs. Colorado Springs Grizzlies

Park City Haggis
Place: 2nd (4-0-0; 20 PTS)  |  PTS/Game: 1st  |  PF/Game: 1st  |  PA/Game: 6th  |  PD/Game: 3rd
10-Game PTS Projection: 50 (1st)

Park City Haggis has been dominant in their four matches this Fall, and the 2014 league runners-up will be fortunate to host Colorado Springs on March 14, as the Grizzlies are the other major contender for the regular season title at this time. With one of their two Colorado road-trip weekends out of the way (featuring wins over the Barbarians and Highlanders), Park City looks unlikely to stumble their way out of the union's championship weekend. That being said, the club would be well-served to button-up its defense, as Haggis is currently allowing a 6th-in-the-league average of 29.75 points against per match.

Remaining Games
March 8: Home vs. Gentlemen of Aspen [to be confirmed]
March 14: Home vs. Colorado Springs Grizzlies
March 21: Away at Denver Harlequins
March 22: vs. Gentlemen of Aspen [to be confirmed; neutral site - Glendale?]
April 11: Home vs. Boulder Rugby
April 18: Away at Provo Steelers

Provo Steelers
Place: 7th (2-2-0; 12 PTS)  |  PTS/Game: 3rd  |  PF/Game: 4th  |  PA/Game: 7th  |  PD/Game: 5th
10-Game PTS Projection: 30 (3rd)

Not unlike past years, Provo has been a tough opponent at home while struggling on the road. Their current projection should see them into the post-season, but an unexpected stumble could just as easily see them out. That being said, a deadly center combination and the league's most dominant scrum will always give opponents a hard time. If the Steelers can add some speed, they could become unstoppable.

Remaining Games
March 7: Home vs. Gentlemen of Aspen [to be confirmed]
March 21: Home vs. Denver Highlanders
March 28: Away at Colorado Springs Grizzlies
March 29: Away at Denver Harlequins
April 4: vs. Gentlemen of Aspen [to be confirmed; neutral site - Grand Junction?]
April 18: Home vs. Park City Haggis