Nationally Ranked Raptors Await Playoff Seeding
GLENDALE, Colo., April 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Playing in front of its largest
crowd this season, the nationally ranked Glendale Raptors Men's Rugby Club
defeated the visiting Kansas City Blues, in both teams' final league match,
41-8.
Glendale opened the scoring by pressuring a Kansas City scrum, resulting
in a turnover, which No. 8 Brad Winbush collected to score in the corner.
Inside center, Mike Graham's conversion missed its target. Glendale continued
to play in the Kansas City half, but the Blues defense was stellar.
In the 20th minute, Glendale had a ten meter lineout. The Raptor drive was
successful and Winbush broke off the back to dot down in corner, for his
second try of the afternoon, 10-0. Shortly thereafter, Kansas City flyhalf
Shawn Foley put the Blues on the board with a short penalty kick, 10-3.
Glendale continued to play in the Blues' half of the field and were
rewarded when the Blues were judged to be offside and Graham kicked the first
of three successful penalty kicks. Continuing their assault on the Blues line,
Graham dropped kicked a goal for a 16-3 lead. In the closing minutes of the
half, the Blues responded by pressuring the Raptor line, and Foley darted over
to score the Blues' singular try of the day. The half concluded with Glendale
ahead, 18-6.
At the restart, the Raptors exploded for a quick try two minutes into the
second half. From a counter attack, Nick Tipton was on the receiving end of a
multiple player movement to score in the corner. Glendale continued to
dominate possession. Following a quick ruck from a scrum move, the Raptor
backs sliced through the Blues defensive line for fullback DeWon Reed to score
a converted try, 28-8.
The Blues displayed stout defense, until replacement lock Ryan Chapman
exploited a mismatch and crashed over for the converted try in the 31st
minute. Glendale closed out the day's scoring with two penalty kicks by Graham
for the final 41-8 score line.
With USA Rugby's ruling to uphold two disputed Glendale results, the
Raptors end the season 5-0-1, good for 27 standings points, two ahead of Aspen
(5-1, 25). Aspen were bonus-point winners over Greater Omaha Saturday.
Glendale is awaiting a ruling by the Rugby Federation Union (RFU)
regarding its playoff seeding for having an ineligible player. USA Rugby has
upheld all of the Raptors results that were being challenged. Pending the RFU
decision, Glendale would travel to Texas to play in the West Playoffs.
For more information regarding Glendale Raptors Rugby please visit the
Club website at http://www.glendalerugby.com.
For advertising and sponsorship opportunities please contact DES
International at http://desinternational.com/ or call 720-226-9720.
SOURCE Glendale Raptors Rugby
Diana Anderson of Glendale Raptors Rugby, +1-720-226-9720,
diana@glendalerugby.com; or DES International, +1-720-226-9720, for Glendale
Raptors Rugby
