Interactive Roster Match Report Match Photos

By Dan Hattrup
Denver Harlequins

Penalties were the name of the game as Ft Collins hosted the Harlequins on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. The Quins were looking for revenge for last Spring's loss, and began the match with a quick score as winger Charlie Olumo made a slashing run through the defense. He passed as he was tackled to openside Joe Biss who carried on to set up a ruck. The ensuing scrum saw a quick pass to fullback Kregg Hyer crashing through the middle, popping the ball up to Ryan Hurley to finish off an exciting try.

Ft Collins kicked the restart deep into the Quins 22, and tied up the ball in a ruck. The ball was passed out of the back of the ensuing scrum, mishandled by the Quins, and kicked ahead for Ft Collins' Chris Woodward to fall on it in the ingoal, leveling the scores at 7.

As the Quins advanced into Ft Collins territory, the hosts were penalized for offside, and the Quins regained the lead off the boot of flyhalf Rob Thomas.

A penalty for a late hit brought the Flamingos within the 22 of the Harlequins, after 5 phases of rucking, winger Jake Shuler was able to dart in for a try in the corner. The northerns continued their assault on the Harlequin line, and Biss was sin-binned for hands in the ruck 2 meters in front of the Quin goalposts. Mike Shulze slotted this kick to bring the score to 15-10.

The half was brought to an end with the Quins driving Ft Collins back into their own territory. A take against the head 10 meters out from the Flamingo line was made more promising when the Flamingo scrumhalf, Jesse Porter, did his best impression of a fish out of water, as he flopped in front of Hurley, who nimbly sidestepped him for a try under the posts. The conversion brought the halftime score to 17-15.

The second half started with the local team looking to continue their winning ways. A tighthead against the Quins, followed by a quick tap from an ensuing offside call found Shulze under the posts for the hosts. A high tackle penalty allowed them to expand their lead by another 3, to 25-17.

The teams traded penalties with hands in by Ft Collins being matched by a retaining the ball, and the gap remained at 8. With under ten minutes remaining in the game, the Quins began to pressure the Flamingo tryline, and were rewarded with a penalty inside the Flamingo 22. Taken quickly, and fed through one ruck, the ball was released to the outside where second row-cum-winger John Kosanovich was able to lumber over for a try. The conversion brought it to a one point game.

After the Quins kicked deep on the kickoff, they were able to turn over the ball carrier. Crashing up and toward the corner, the Flamingos were penalized for offside five meters in from the touchline. Thomas took the ball back to the 22 and was able to slot the penalty in injury time for the victory.

Quins 30, Ft Collins 28

Quins (15-9,1-8): Hyer, Olumo (Trexler 40), Hull, Smith, Taussig, Thomas, Hurley, Roder, Gonder, Matteucci, Kosanovich, Cawley, Dagmut, Biss, Klaus

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Harlequins (15-9,1-8): Hyer, Olumo, Hull, Smith, Taussig, Thomas, Hurley, Roder, Gonder, Matteucci, Kosanovich, Cawley, Daymut, Biss, Klaus

Interactive Roster Match Report Match Photos

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