Raptors to Play Iowa Team May 31 in Championship Semi-Final

GLENDALE RAPTORS RUGBY TEAM COMPLETES UNDEFEATED SEASON GLENDALE WOMEN'S RAPTORS HAVE 7-1 SEASON, LOSING ONLY TO BOSTON

GLENDALE, Colo., May 23 /PRNewswire/ -- The Village of Glendale will be the nation's capital of rugby on the weekend of May 31 - June 1 as teams from eight states battle in Division One and Division Two USA Rugby National Championship semi-finals and finals.

The focus of local interest will be the May 31 Division One semi-final match between the Glendale Raptors and the Pearl City (Iowa) Rugby Club. Action begins at 3:30 pm.

In earlier matches on May 31 action begins at 9:30 am with Brandywine (Pennsylvania) vs. Detroit followed by Wisconsin vs. Red Mountain (Arizona); Olympic (San Francisco, the nation's oldest rugby club) vs. Life (Atlanta, Ga.).

Consolation matches begin at 9 am on June 1 culminating in the Division One Championship game at 4:30 pm.

Glendale Mayor Pro Tem Mike Dunafon said the 5,000 seat Infinity Park Stadium, the nation's only municipally owned and operated rugby facility, "should be filled to capacity."

The Glendale Raptors rugby team has had an outstanding undefeated season (9 wins and 1 tie).

Head coach Mark Bullock said: "We look forward to a tough and exciting match against Pearl City on May 31. We started this season with a collection of young players who had never played together. These athletes have now come together as a team -- a tough and talented team."

The Glendale Women's Raptors also achieved success this spring as they dominated their opponents, achieving a 7-1 record and averaging more than 40 points per game in all of their home matches. The season culminated with a cross country challenge match against Boston Women's Rugby Football Club (WRFC). The Raptors lost the match 22-12.

Women's Raptors Coach Wendy Cook applauded the effort: "The team never gave up against Boston surging back after Boston took a 22-0 lead. We think we've created the basis for much future success."

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Source: Glendale Raptors

CONTACT: Gerry Freeman, +1-303-246-6886, +1-303-246-6867, or Scott
Chase, +1-303-324-1121, both for Glendale Raptors

2008-05-23 18:30:50 0369959 PRNEWSWIRE