Raptors Retain PRP Title

Lost in the shadow cast by the launch of PRO Rugby is the fact that the Pacific Rugby Premiership is still alive and well. The Western-based competition completed their third year of operation yesterday with a scintillating finale. As in the first two years of the competition, the Glendale Raptors and San Francisco Golden Gate Rhinos squared off in the championship match.

San Francisco took home the title in 2014 and Glendale raised the trophy in 2015. Played at Infinity Park in Glendale, the home side Raptors weren’t taking in any chances in the final as they brought in eight of their players that were signed to the Denver PRO franchise. Capped Eagles Zach Fenoglio, Peter Dahl, and captain Mose Timoteo have all performed in the new professional league this season and all had an impact for the champions.

SFGG had former Eagles 7s and XVs reps in Tai Enosa and Mile Pulu directing their backline, with current Eagles Elite Squad member Pila Huihui on the wing. None have yet committed to PRO but could well make the move now that their PRP commitments are over for the season.

In this year’s PRP Championship, it was the Raptors taking the crown again with a clinical 44-20 victory over the Rhinos. The Raptors took a 17-6 lead into halftime and produced a strong second half effort to take home the title. Glendale has made a penchant of putting in big performances in the second half during their PRP tenure and the 2016 PRP Final was more of the same.

Raptor’s flyhalf Armandt Peens produced a Man of the Match performance with 24 points on a try, five conversions, and three penalty goals. Fullback Dustin Croy added two tries for the Raptors.

The win caps another great campaign for the Pacific Rugby Premiership and the Glendale Raptors. The Raptors finish their PRP season with a 11-2 record.

GLENDALE RAPTORS 44
Tries – D. Croy 2, A. Peens, M. Knoetze, I. Fa’amausili
Cons – A. Peens 5
Pens – A. Peens 3

SFGG RHINOS 20
Tries – B. Daly, M. Pulu
Cons – A. Curry 2
Pens – T. Enosa 2

GLENDALE RAPTORS
1 Chris Hathaway 2 Zach Fenoglio 3 James Del Bozque 4 David Hardy 5 Casey Rock 6 Patrick Doyle 7 Peter Dahl 8 Zac Pauga 9 Mose Timoteo (capt.) 10 Armandt Peens 11 Max Statler 12 John Ryberg 13 Martin Knoetze 14 DeWon Reed 15 Dustin Croy

16 Joseph Hasch 17 Marshall Godfrey 18 Joash Peko 19 Lynton Mare 20 Devin Vaughter 21 Crawford Miller 22 Iniki Fa’amausili 23 Josh Barry

SFGG RHINOS
1 Jacob Nelson 2 Neil Barrett 3 Mosese Atiola 4 Brendan Daly (capt.) 5 Tom Rooke 6 Thomas Nabbs 7 Eoin Sheeran 8 Ricky Reynolds 9 Kadin Te Nana 10 Taivalu Enosa 11 Pila Huihui 12 Milemoti Pulu 13 Tomasi Funaki 14 Travis Benson 15 Adrian Curry

16 Spencer Sarver 17 Jeff Colata 18 Saimone Laulaupea’alu 19 Mark Bowers 20 Patrick Schock 21 Fernando Dominguez 22 Sam Rabb 23 Jamil Robinson