BOULDER, Colo – The field of competitors still in the hunt for the 2009 USA Rugby Men’s Club Championship title has been narrowed to eight teams in Divisions I, II and III, following a day of intense regional playoffs in Austin, Texas and Columbia, S.C.

WEST REGIONAL PLAYOFFS – AUSTIN, TEXAS

In a day hampered by rain and mud, the teams at Austin’s Burr field kicked into high gear and battled through the elements for a coveted shot at advancing to the Club Championships in Glendale, Colo., on May 30-31.

The tightest match of the day came in the Division I Men’s contest, as last year’s runners up, the Glendale Raptors went head-to-head with 2008 semifinalists Olympic Club. Withstanding the sloppy playing conditions, both sides executed well defensively, only allowing one try a piece to put the game at 7-5 in Olympic Club’s favor with time ticking down. However, with just under 10 minutes left to play, the Raptors were awarded a clutch penalty kick opportunity.

With the possible fate of his team on his shoulders, Glendale’s Mike Graham successfully kicked for three and the Raptors held on to eke out an 8-7 victory over the OC. The Raptors next meet Las Vegas on Sunday afternoon for a chance to play on their home field for the second year in a row. The Blackjacks earned their way into the Round of 8 match-up versus Glendale after knocking off Houston Athletic Club 13-5.

Also still in the championships race are the Gentlemen of Aspen, who secured a convincing 25-5 victory over Provo when the playoffs kicked off early Saturday morning. Aspen now advances to face Los Angeles at 11 a.m. on Sunday. Los Angeles heads into the match on the heels of a 23-0 shutout of Shreveport in the Round of 16.

In the Division II Men’s competition, the Albuquerque Aardvarks pulled off the greatest upset of the day, bouncing the defending champion Red Mountain from the tournament early, in a 12-5 final tally. The Aardvarks will be put to the test on Sunday against a strong team from Tempe, which held North County (San Diego) scoreless in its playoffs opener.

Still keeping their hopes alive for a championship berth, No. 1 seeded East Palo Alto pushed past the St. Louis Bombers 16-5 and now meet Back Bay (Orange County) RFC at 2 p.m. on Sunday. The California team played through the sloppiest of conditions in the final game of the day on Saturday, earning a convincing 45-5 victory over San Antonio.

Finally, the Division III competition showcased evenly balanced match-ups throughout opening round. California’s Beaumont RFC ousted Budd Bay (Wash.) from the competition, in a 27-15 when play got underway on Saturday and will play Wichita when the tournament resumes on Sunday. The Kansas team held off Phoenix to earn an 18-12 win in the Round of 16.

Northern State (S.D.) put down last year’s fifth place finishers Eagle Rock (Los Angeles), 26-12 to advance to a Round of 8 meeting versus Fort Worth on Sunday. Fort Worth held California’s Mission Rugby to just one try to win its opening match 13-7.

DAY 1 RESULTS: MEN’S DI, II, & III CLUB PLAYOFFS

West Regional – Burr Field, Austin, TX

DI

Aspen 25, Provo 5

Los Angeles 23, Shreveport 0

Glendale 8, Olympic Club 7

Las Vegas 13, Houston 5

DII

Tempe 34, North County 0

Albuquerque Aardvarks 12, Red Mountain 5

East Palo Alto 16, St. Louis Bombers 5

Back Bay 45, San Antonio 5

DIII

Beaumont 27, Budd Bay 15

Wichita 18, Phoenix 12

Fort Worth 13, Mission 7

Northern State 26, Eagle Rock 12

EAST REGIONAL PLAYOFFS – COLUMBIA, S.C.

Over the on the East Coast, the playoff battles raged in full force and the day one matches Columbia’s Lexington/Gibson Road Soccer Complex set the stage for a thrilling Round of 8 competition on Sunday, as the contest is narrowed further to the Colorado-bound semifinalists.

Filling the void left by the promotion of last year’s Men’s Club champion, the Georgia-based Life University, which is now meeting great success in the Rugby Super League, both Atlanta teams advance to the next round of play in the Division I contest.

Atlanta Old White kicked off the competition with a narrow 23-19 margin over Media Rugby Club and now faces 2008 semifinalist Pearl City (Iowa) in the round of 16. This should prove a trying task for Atlanta, as Pearl City heads into the game rolling on the momentum of its 43-0 shutout versus New Haven.

Likewise, the Atlanta Renegades charged past Old Blue (N.Y.), in a dominating 37-10 final tally and earned a second round match-up versus Detroit on Sunday. The Tradesmen held off Mystic River (Boston) 25-15 to keep their championship hopes alive.

In Division II, 2008 runners up Brandywine look to reclaim a spot in the final and faceoff against Indianapolis in the Round of 8 on Sunday, following a big 32-14 victory over the South Shore Anchors (Boston). Indy steadily built its lead and handled Baton Rouge 53-12 in its playoff opener.

The Milwaukee Harlequins also keep their eyes locked firmly on the Championship round, following a 34-10 win over Tampa Bay and will meet Lanscaster on Sunday afternoon. Lancaster bumped off Providence 34-15 in the closing match of day one to remain in the hunt.

Semifinalists in 2008, the Middlesex Barbarians (Mass.) still remain on track to surpass their previous performance after a 44-22 defeat of Harrisburg (Pa.). Middlesex will see Lexington in its Round of 8 match-up tomorrow.

Blacksburg (Va.) and Danbury are also set to face off as the remaining DIII contenders from the East Regional. After leading 24-0 at the half, Blacksburg held off a second half surge from Cleveland Eastern suburbs for a 29-19 victory. Danbury defeated Pensacola 19-3 to earn a spot in the Round of 8.

DAY 1 RESULTS: MEN’S DI, II, & III CLUB PLAYOFFS

East Regional – Lexington/Gibson Road Soccer Complex, Columbia, SC

DI

Atlanta Old White 23, Media 19

Pearl City 43, New Haven 0

Atlanta Renegades 37, Old Blue 10

Detroit Tradesmen 25, Mystic River 15

DII

Brandywine 32, South Shore 14

Indianapolis 53, Baton Rouge 12

Milwaukee Harlequins 34, Tampa Bay Krewe 10

Lancaster 34, Providence 15

DIII

Danbury 19, Pensacola 3

Blacksburg 29, Cleveland Eastern Suburbs 19

Middlesex 44, Harrisburg 22

Lexington 15, Hilton Head 7

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