RSL PLAYOFF PICTURE NARROWS AS TEAMS SECURE SEEDINGS; Week Four Features Crucial Road Wins by NYAC, PAC, Denver and SFGG

DALLAS (April 17, 2005) � Only two weeks remain in the RSL regular season and teams are feeling the pressure to earn critical late season points to secure one of their conference�s four playoff seeds.

At the start of the day, in the East, it appeared that New York AC, Chicago, Old Blue and Potomac Athletic Club (PAC) had the conference�s playoff seeds all but locked up entering Week 5 play. However, improved efforts and subsequent points from Washington, Philadelphia-Whitemarsh, and Kansas City could delay any celebration from the conferences� top teams. 

In a conference match up of unbeatens, Old Blue (3-0) traveled west from New York to face a hard-charging Chicago Lions (3-0-1) side. The first half featured a territorial battle that saw possession change as much as a tennis match. Breaking the scoreless tie for Old Blue, hooker Mark Griffen capitalized by running through a narrow seam in the Lion�s defense with a 10m gallop scoring try run to give the visiting Blue�s a 7-0 advantage seconds before the half.  A half-time chat from Lion�s head coach Marty Wiggins seemed to inspire the home team as they dominated the second half with five tries and a penalty goal. Led by #15 Jeremy Nash�s two tries, the Lions ended the day undefeated beating a dejected Old Blue side 36-14. Old Blue maintains their conference position with 14 points and a game in hand after a postponed Week 3 match. The Chicago win solidified their playoff spot and gave the Lion�s an Eastern Conference leading 21 points entering Week 6.

In other Eastern Conference matches, the conference�s co-leaders entering the day � the New York Athletic Club (3-0-1), traveled south to the windy shores of New Jersey to take on a Philadelphia-Whitemarsh (1-3) side that has played better than their 1-3 record shows. Thanks in large part to the accurate foot of fly half Jason Forrest (4/4 penalty goals) Philly clung to a 17-16 advantage entering the 60:00 minute. With the conference lead on the line, NYAC�s  wing Tony Legano intercepted a floating Philly pass and dashed 30m for the lead changing score. Minutes later off of a spirited NYAC maul, NYAC forward, and US Eagle, Andy Ryland crashed through the Philly try line for NYAC�s fourth scoring run on the day. The win and the late Ryland try earned NYAC five points on the day and 21 on the season to maintain their Conference lead with Chicago. 

In Kansas City, the Potomac Athletic Club (3-1) battled the home town Blues (0-3).  PAC grabbed an early 11-3 advantage off of an early Mark Crick unconverted try and two penalty goals by Roberto Infante. KC clawed back into the match late in the second half to narrow their deficit at 21-20. Solid PAC defense and two trys from #14 Danzel Van Zyl were enough to earn PAC the important late season road win. Four tries on the afternoon gave PAC five points on the day and 19 total points in the standings. Barring an unforeseen collapse, PAC earns one of the four coveted playoff spots in the East.

The final match on the East�s schedule had Washington (1-3) traveling north on I-95 to battle a Boston (0-3) side seeking their first win and points of the season. Solid defense and limited turnovers had the home team leading 20-15 with a minute to go in the match. Seeking an outside playoff seed, Washington took advantage of a late Boston penalty with a quick tap from 15m out. Washington regrouped with five grinding phases and shifted the ball out to wing Mike Schaeffer for a punishing run and the go ahead score. Washington takes home four points and 10 total points on the season with their 22-20 defeat of Boston.  

 
Boston on the attack versus Washington
(Photo courtesy of Boston Rugby)

Out West, after a week of turmoil resulting in the Gentlemen of Aspen bowing out of RSL competition due to their inability to field a team, the now seven-team conference pushed forward in their heated battle for playoff seeds. Traveling to face a re-energized Dallas Harlequins (1-3) side, the Denver Barbarians (3-1) sought to maintain their momentum after a critical home win versus OMBAC in Week 4. Barbos 8-man Fernando Alvarez opened the scoring at 5:00 with a crushing 5m try run. The Quins then rallied behind the hustle of #2 Scott Schmidt�s two, first half, try goals to take an impressive 24-8 lead into the half. Adjusting to the thick Dallas air, Denver�s talented back line lead a second half, four-try comeback with scores from backs Laef Fox, Mason Bizzell, Guy Mumford and Jody Kramer. The 14 points stemming from the late Mumford and Kramer�s scores were enough to give the Barbos their second late-game win in two weeks � Denver over Dallas 37-31. Denver heads back home with five points to show for their efforts while Dallas earns two points with bonus try and loss points. Dallas now sits comfortably in second place in the West with 18 points on the season, while Dallas looms in the middle of the pack with 8 points and two weeks to earn a coveted playoff seed.

In other Western Conference action, the S.F. Golden Gates (2-1), refocused and hungry for a win after last week�s last minute loss to conference leader Belmont Shore (4-0), set their sites on a slumping OMBAC (2-2) side. From the opening kickoff the �Defenders of The Golden Gate� dominated ball control keeping OMBAC on the defensive for much of the half. Two penalty goals from US Eagle Matt Sherman and a try score from Robby Flynn gave the Gates a six-point half time advantage, 11-5. OMBAC�s hopes for a second half comeback were dashed as they were forced to play a man down for the final 30 minutes of the match. Undisciplined play resulted in three yellow cards and one red card for an unfocused OMBAC side. The Gate�s slammed OMBAC�s hopes of a second half comeback by matching their first half-point total. The match ended at 22-5, SFGG. San Francisco grabbed sole possession of second place in the West with 4 points from the win. OMBAC�s loss keeps them tied with Puget Sound for the final Western Conference playoff seed.

In Seattle, the rain clouds parted for an important home test for Old Puget Sound Beach (1-3) as they took on a traveling Olympic Club (1-3) side.  The match featured a territorial kicking battle that was repeatedly interrupted by strong forward play. The difference for both teams proved to be the dominating performance from OPSB�s pack. OPSB successfully captured Olympic Club possessions off of stolen scrums, lineouts and mauls. A collective scoring effort from seven Puget Sound players earned OPSB their second win of the year with a 39-10 win over Olympic Club.  
 

The USA Rugby Super League is proudly sponsored by Michelob Amberbock, the official beer of the Rugby Super League, by Kudu Rugby, the official rugby outfitter of the Rugby Super League, by Summit Rugby Balls, the official ball of the Rugby Super League and by Rugby America, official screen printer of the Rugby Super League.

RSL EASTERN CONFERENCE RESULTS
Old Blue 14 @ Chicago Lions 36
NYAC 29 @ Philly-Whitemarsh 17
Potomac Athletic Club 31 @ Kansas City Blues 27
Washington RFC 22 @ Boston RFC 20

RSL WESTERN CONFERENCE RESULTS
Olympic Club Blues 10 @ Old Puget Sound Beach 39
Denver Barbarians 37 @ Dallas Harlequins 31
SF Golden Gate 22 @ OMBAC 5
Gentlemen of Aspen @ Belmont Shore - Cancelled