Match Report Match Photos

By Dan Hattrup
Denver Harlequins

The Harlequins visited the 39th annual Highlands Games over the weekend for a 10s tournament. With a free substitution policy, it allowed everyone to get in a bit of pre-season running and hitting. Our first game was against the hosting side (Highlands Ranch rugby), consisting of a Bill Gregg invitational side. As ever with Billy-rugby, the emphasis was on fun, with Gregg serving up his patented "show me the dummy" before being leveled by the Quin centres.

The second match was against an old boy side from East High School. (And we always thought Hunsaker was posh and went to Cherry Creek instead). While sporting some u19 Eagles and division I players, they were outmanned in the set pieces, and competently tackled in the backline.

Our neighbors from the People's Republic of Boulder came for our third derby of the day. Apparently, they didn't want to make the 60mile trip home empty handed, and assured themselves of a place in the final by beating the Quins 4 or 5 tries to 1.

To the last match of the day -- against our cross-creek rivals, the Highlanders. In a tight match, the Highlanders opened the scoring after a missed tackle in the midfield. Shortly thereafter, a quick tap by flyhalf Rob Thomas was rewarded when hooker Gilligan trundled the last 20 meters to cheers of "center it, you idiot" to even the scores. As the back and forth affair continued, the greatest debate in rugby came to a head -- "is it worse for the Quins to lose a game, or for Gilligan to score 2 tries in a match?" The referee mooted the point by having the unique opinion of "ball held up in goal" despite the incredulous looks of 20 players and a like number of spectators (including the touch judge). Justice prevailed a short time later when Charlie Olumo danced his way thru 3 Highlanders to score a try.

It was a case of too little, too late, as the whistle went after the kickoff was downed in-goal. The pain of the loss was mitigated by a bottle of Famous Grouse, sponsors of the annual festival, and long time supporters of Scottish Rugby.

Match Report Match Photos

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