By Ken Matthews
Dick's Sporting Goods Park
April 19, 2008
The Denver Barbarians Rugby Club made final preparations for their Division II playoff run with a 38-8 win over Colorado State University, Saturday, April 19 at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. The Barbarians took a narrow 10-8 halftime lead and dominated the second half to take the win.
The Barbarians send this team to next week's Western Rugby Football Union's Division II Championships in Fort Worth, Texas and open against defending Western DII Champion Tulsa in the opening match. Albuquerque Aardvarks and Shreveport Rugby Football Club square off in the later match.
The top two seeds advance to the Men's Club Championships Series in Austin, TX, on May 17 - 18. The Men's Club Championship will take place in Colorado on May 31 and June 1, 2008.
Denver scored first at 8 minutes after consistent pressure on the young Rams. A turnover inside CSU's 22-meter line initiated the score. Jake McCormick passed to a looping Michael Hughes to score in the right corner of the end zone. Hughes' conversion kick was blown short by a strong wind.
Barbarians 5, CSU 0.
CSU came back and mounted pressure on the Barbarians at the restart. From a deep kickoff, the Barbarians were not able to clear and at the subsequent breakdown were penalized. CSU converted. At 10 minutes, Barbarians 5, CSU 3.
Ten minutes later a CSU kick following a penalty by the Barbarians was no good.
The Barbarians scored at 27 minutes later. The Barbarians drove down the field within 10 meters of the CSU line. Again, the ball was sent to John Ferguson, who blasted through the defense to score. The conversion kick failed. Barbarians 10, CSU 3.
Near the half whistle, CSU tightened the match. The Barbos were penalized and CSU went on an attack near midfield. CSU's chase was supported by numbers and a grub through could not be stopped. The CSU fullback scored. At halftime: Barbarians 10, CSU 8.
The Barbarians would have the wind in the second half and made the most of it. Scoring started 3 minutes into the half. The Barbarians kept possession and sent the ball to Ferguson on a crash. Ferguson broke through the defense to score. Hughes' conversion was good. Barbarians 17, CSU 8.
Seven minutes later Ferguson scored his third try of the day. Hughes converted. Barbarians 24, CSU 8.
Ross Kantor continued to torment CSU's back three with booming kicks. Fielding a long CSU clearance kick, Kantor kicked deep behind the CSU wing where the Barbarians regained possession and attacked to the right and crashed Ferguson into the defense. Ferguson passed to Josh Masek who scored. Hughes' conversion was good. With ten minutes remaining, Barbarians 31, CSU 8.
The final score of the day came 5 minutes later.Kantor kept his feet, toes the ball through under the posts and touches down for an individual effort try. Hughes converts. Final score: Barbarians 38, CSU 8.
DENVER BARBARIANS: 1 Greg Raubsen, 2 Josh Masek, 3 Sean Toal, 4 Derrick Borgmann, 5 Jim Crouse, 6 Hayden Smith, 7 Rob O'Connor, 8 Andrew Redfern, 9 Matt Hughes, 10 Michael Hughes, 11 Broc Mullins (Cook at half), 12 John Ferguson, 13 Jake McCormick, 14 Adam Fisher, 15 Ross Kantor, 16 John Toole, 17 Ian Bonesteel, 18 Mike Garrity.
Coach: Andy de Villiers
Tries: Ferguson 3, Hughes, Masek, Kantor
Conversions: Hughes 4
Penalties: 0
Drop Goals: 0
COLORADO STATE RAMS: Lineup not available.
Coach: Blake Stevens
Tries: 1
Conversions: 0
Penalties: 1
Drop Goals: 0
Referee: Craig Tarr
About Denver Barbarians Rugby Club
The Denver Barbarians Rugby Club was founded in 1967. The Barbos have supplied many players to all levels of select side play including the Eagles, the United States National Team. In addition, many referees, coaches, and administrators at all levels have emerged from the Barbos ranks. The Club has won championships at the National, Territorial, and Local level in both 15's and seven-a-side play.
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