Match Overview

March 6, 2010

The Gentlemen of Aspen ran out to a 45 – 14 victory over the struggling Glendale Raptors at Infinity Park, Field Two.  After a tight first half, Aspen intercepted two wayward passes in the first five minutes of the half and the rout was on.

Under clear skies Glendale and Aspen probed and counter probed throughout the first half with the Raptors getting on the board first with flyhalf Beau Dunley’s penalty kick from 33 meters out.  Aspen would counter with a try from a Raptor missed tackle to go up 7 – 3 after fifteen minutes.  The Raptors slowly pulled back as Dunley hit two more penalty kicks to see the Raptors go up 9 – 5 in the tightly contested defensive battle.

With another Raptor defensive lapse, Aspen scored in the corner at thirty one minutes to take a lead they would never relinquish, 12 – 9.

Glendale started a nightmare second half by throwing two ill advised passes that were intercepted for easy trys in the first five minutes.  Quickly down 24 – 9, the Raptors continued to shoot themselves in the foot with errors, including and another poor pass that was pick up on the bounce and run in for a score.

Raptors wing Dewon Reed scored a consolation try in the seventy-third minute off a blind-side scrum move for the final 45 – 14 score.   Raptor Coach Mark Bullock stated that Aspen, loaded with experienced veterans made the Raptors pay for every mistake.  “Aspen brought their usual solid game and played like the veteran team they are.  They punished us for the poor decisions and execution we made.  Hopefully this will be a lesson not lost on our team.”