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Colorado State High School Semifinals: Division II, match #1 Highlands Ranch Harlequins RFC v PAC RFC
written for Rugby Scribe:
The Denver Barbarians daylong rugby festival at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park kicked off with a cracking Olde Boys match sandwiched between a TRY League (U-13s) fixture on one side and the initial State schoolboy semifinal featuring two clubs coached by Denver Harlequins: PAC (Platte Canyon and Conifer) and Highlands Ranch RFCs.
Ranch began the match working near channel smashes by its forward pack to effect while PAC countered, swinging the ball out to its talented three-quarter line.
PAC got aboard with a brace of trys scored by fetcher AJ Eleinewski. After awarded a free kick for Ranch’s early push at the set scrum, the undergrad phenom tapped, snatched and dashed around the corner and into space for thirty and his corner dot: PAC were up by five at minute 9.
PAC stayed on the front foot as blindside Conner Kissler’s pass put Eleinewski in space to scoot for twenty and the grounding which, along with flyhalf Alex Wormer‘s conversion had the Front Rangers up by a score of a dozen-to-nil in the 10th minute.
A fine, streaming counter by Highlands fullback Cody Schlegel had those boys on the front foot and PAC was pinged for bridging at the breakdown. Quickly tapped ball had loosehead Jaron Beerline through the gap and the big man rushed to goal for the touch down centreposts. Scrumhalf’ Ryan Joubert’s conversion and the scoreline was 12-7 in PAC’s favor midway through the half.
PAC finished tallying in the half when Ranch were judged to have been bridging at breakdown and #10 Alex Wormer’s sticksplitter made the numbers 15 and 7. Ranch saw an opportunity go begging at minute 22 as they were closeby PAC’s tryline, but could not finish.
PAC brought ball into goal at minute 25, but were unable to ground, while Ranch returned the favor five minutes on as PAC’s defenders were up to the task and did not allow the ball-to-earth touch down. Mr. Beynon’s blast signaling the break and the lads went off for their respective halftime instructions, courtesy of Denver Harlequins RFC.
PAC extended their lead in the 41st minute when Wormer‘s lengthy “skip-two” pass found #14 Kenny Askelson at pace at Ranch’s 22 and the speedster closed well for the corner grounding. Two more from the toe of Wormer and it was 22-7 to PAC.
Highlands Ranch got theirs when short slips and lunges from the maul in gains of one and two meters had the PAC defenders at sixes and sevens until quick service to inside center James McPherson enabled him to bang into space for a fifteen meter scamper and touch down that, with Joubert’s’s completion, had the scores at 22 and 14 with ten left on the clock.
But it was to be PAC who had the final word as replacement Daniel Mozer’s headsup pick, dive and dot from the loose into goal had the final at 27-14: PAC had punched their ticket to the finals match this Wednesday, 5pm – Infinity Park Rugby Stadium in beautiful downtown Glendale, CO.
Scoring
PAC – Try: Olenewski(2), #14, #20; Con #10 (2); Pen: #10
Highlands Ranch - Try: #1, #12; Con #9
Match Officials: Geriant Beynon, Steve Gore, Mark van der Molen
