July 8, 2016
Denver Stampede Host San Diego Breakers in Key PRO Rugby Match
Photo: PRO Rugby
Doug Coil
The PRO Rugby season is winding down, but the Denver Stampede is still competing to win the League. Two weeks ago, the Denver Stampede emerged with a 29-13 win over the Sacramento Express, but it wasn’t an easy match. The Stampede needed a bonus point to remain in first place, but that did not happen. Ohio took a one point lead in the standings and have since increased their lead to six points with a win last week.
Denver enters this weekend with a 7-1 record and 31 points. After this week’s match against the San Diego Breakers, they are home next week against Sacramento, before having consecutive away matches against San Francisco and Ohio. Should Denver win their next three matches, they may travel to Ohio in a winner take all match for the League title.
The Stampede have made six changes to their starting XV, five of which are in the forwards. Both Ben Tarr and Chris Baumann return from Eagles’ duty and will start at props, while minor injuries caused Casey Rock and Peter Dahl to miss their previous match at lock and flanker, respectively. Hanco Germishuys will also start at flanker.
In the backs, Chad London returns from Eagles’ duty and will resume his customary position at center, pushing Timana Tahu back to wing.
The San Diego Breakers have a 4-5 record and would like nothing better than to win their remaining matches. Next week the Breakers travel to San Francisco and end their season on July 23rd at Sacramento. They are a good team and will likely finish the season in third place.
The Breakers have already placed the Stampede twice in San Diego with narrow 22-16 and 24-23 losses.They hope that they can break this pattern, evening their record and at the same time derailing Denver’s quest for the League title.
The Breakers have made three changes to their starting XV. Mason Petersen is at prop, pushing Joe Taufete’e to hooker. Chris Turori is at eight man, while Sione Tuihalamaka moves to lock. In the backs, Ben Leatigaga is at wing in place of Phil Mackenzie, who is not on the this week’s roster.
Some teams match up well and it is expected that the match will be another close one. If so, that presents a challenge for both teams, but the Stampede really need a bonus point win to keep pace with the Aviators.
Tickets on sale here: ttp://bit.ly/1ONvO28 With the PRO Rugby season ending at the end of July, don’t miss the opportunity to experience the fastest growing sport in the United States. Just in case you have other plans, the match will be streamed on prorugby.org
Denver Stampede: 1 Ben Tarr 2 Zach Fenoglio 3 Chris Baumann 4 Casey Rock 5 Logan Collins 6 Hanco Germishuys 7 Peter Dahl 8 Pedrei Wannenburg (C) 9 Mose Timateo 10 Will Magie 11 Timana Tahu 12 Ata Malifa 13 Chad London 14 Mike Garrity 15 Max de Achaval 16 Nick Wallace 17 Jake Turnbull 18 Soane Leger 19 Luke White 20 Zac Pauga 21 Bobby Impson 22 Kyle Hitt 23 Dustin Croy Coaches: Head Coach – Sean O’Leary, Assistant Coaches: Peter Borlase, David Williams Manager: Kieran Browner
San Diego Breakers: 1 Mason Petersen 2 Joe Taufete’e 3 Jake Ilnicki 4 Sione Tuihalamaka 5 Tai Tuisamoa 6 Nikola Bursic 7 Cecil Garber 8 Chris Turori 9 Charlie Purdon 10 Kurt Morath 11 Ben Leatigaga 12 Andrew Suniula 13 Ryan Matyas 14 Pono Haitsuka 15 Mikey Te’o 16 Mikey Sosene-Feagai 17 Kakalea Pule 18 Brice Schilling 19 Jean Baptiste Gobelet 20 Bruce Thomas 21 Tom Bliss 22 Kalei Konrad 23 Zach Pangelinan Coaches: Head Coach – Ray Egan Assistant Coaches: Matt Hawkins, Rob Hoadley Manager: Sean Lindersmith
DJCoil Rugby Match Recaps of Previous Matches
Denver Stampede Boot Sacramento Express
Ohio Aviators Repel San Diego Breakers From Scaling The Fortress
