BOULDER, Colo – After two days of intense regional playoff matches in Austin, Texas and Columbia, S.C., the Division I, II and III semifinalists are finally set for USA Rugby Men’s Club Championship event in Glendale, Colo., on May 30-31.

DIVISION I
Pearl City is the only 2008 semifinalist that will make a return trip to Glendale’s Infinity Park in 2009. Last year, the Iowa-based team met a disappointing semifinal loss at the hands of the Glendale Raptors, but with its 41-11 Round of 8 victory over Atlanta Old White, the squad gets a chance to redeem itself this time around.

Pearl City took control of its match versus Atlanta early on and led 17-3 before the end of the first half. They steadily built their lead in the second half and defended aggressively, only allowing Atlanta to score in the last five minutes of the game.

The Iowa team now looks ahead to the semifinals where it meets Las Vegas – and getting past the Blackjacks should prove a trying task, as they roll into Colorado on the heels of a thrilling playoff finish versus Glendale. Down by as much as 22 points in their Round of 8 meeting against the Raptors, Las Vegas refused to back down and try-by-try, the team muscled its way back to a 22-20 game as the second half wound down.

It seemed time was running out for the Blackjacks, who missed two late penalty kick opportunities that would have put them up top, but at the death, No. 7 Tom Carter powered in for a huge try. The successful conversion ushered in the final whistle, with the score stuck at 27-22 in Las Vegas’ favor.

While the final day of playoff competition in Columbia ended in disappointment for Atlanta Old White, fellow Georgia-based club the Atlanta Renegades ended its playoff journey on a high note, earning a place in the semifinals with a victory over the Detroit Tradesmen.

Although Detroit shot ahead to an early 10-0 lead, Atlanta continued to gain momentum in the first half and before the first 40 minutes had elapsed, the Renegades had built a 19-17 lead. Atlanta wing Roderigus Ceaser notched one more try in the second half to set the score at a 24-17 final.

Looking ahead to the semifinals on May 30, the Renegades will face the Gentlemen of Aspen. The Colorado team downed Los Angeles 15-7 in the Round of 8 to continue on its quest to the Championship round.

RESULTS
East
Pearl City 41, Atlanta Old White 11 - Round of 8
Atlanta Renegades 24, Detroit Tradesmen 17 - Round of 8
Old Blue 29, Mystic River 10 – Consolation
Media 60, New Haven 12 - Consolation

West
Aspen 15, Los Angeles 7 - Round of 8
Las Vegas 27, Glendale 22 - Round of 8
Provo, 67, Shreveport 17 - Consolation
Olympic Club 48, Houston Athletic Club 13 – Consolation

NEXT UP: Men’s Club Championships – Glendale, Colo., (May 30)
Semifinal – Las Vegas vs. Pearl City
Semifinal – Aspen vs. Atlanta Renegades

DIVISION II
Top Division II seed East Palo Alto clinched a spot in the semifinal round at Infinity Park, following a 26-11 win over Southern California club Back Bay. East Palo Alto will face a tough match against Indianapolis in the semis on May 30. Indianapolis heads into the semis on a high note, after knocking off 2008 runners up Brandywine, 10-16, in the Round of 8.

After pulling a massive upset over the defending DII Men’s champion, Red Mountain, in day one, the Albuquerque Aardvarks continued their dominance in the final day of playoff competition. The New Mexico club held Tempe to just one try and walked away with a 15-5 win, worthy of a semifinal spot.

Albuquerque faces Pennsylvania side Lancaster side in the semi finals in two weeks. Lancaster looks to build on its dominant day two performance in the playoffs versus the Milwaukee Harlequins. The team shot out to a 14-0 early on and held the Harlequins to just two tries in the second half to roll away with a 44-10.

RESULTS
East
Indianapolis 16, Brandywine 10 - Round of 8
Lancaster 44, Milwaukee Harlequins 10 - Round of 8
South Shore, 42, Baton Rouge 8 - Consolation
Tampa Bay Krewe 38, Providence 13- Consolation

West
Albuquerque Aardvarks 15, Tempe 5 - Round of 8
East Palo Alto 26, Back Bay 11 - Round of 8
Red Mountain 41, North County 14 - Consolation
St. Louis Bombers 73, San Antonio 0 – Consolation

NEXT UP: Men’s Club Championships – Glendale, Colo., (May 30)
Semifinal – East Palo Alto vs. Indianapolis
Semifinal – Albuquerque Aardvarks vs. Lancaster

DIVISION III
The final day of the Men’s Division III competition saw some tight finishes in the East Regional playoffs. After leading 18-10 at halftime, Danbury held off a late comeback from Blacksburg to clinch a spot in the semifinals in Glendale. Blacksburg scored three unanswered tries in the game’s final 10 minutes to pull within three points near the end, but time was not on their side. At full time, the score held at 30-27 in Danbury’s favor.

The Connecticut club now advances to meet South Dakota team, Northern State in the semifinals. In its final West Regional match, Northern State put in an impressive 33-7 performance against Fort Worth to advance.

In another thrilling finish in the DIII contest, the Round of 8 match-up between Lexington and Middlesex was decided by a late penalty kick. Middlesex led 10-3 at the half, but Lexington made a strong comeback in the second half, eventually pulling ahead 18-17 at 70 minutes, following a try from flyhalf Aaron Breeck. However, less than five minutes later, Middlesex’s Jason Stefani kicked a penalty to put his team over the top 20-18, where the score held until the final blow.

The No. 7 seeded Middlesex next meets No. 3 seeded Beaumont in the semifinals at Infinity Park. Beaumont (Calif.) heads into the match following a convincing 37-5 victory over Wichita on Sunday.

RESULTS
East
Danbury 30, Blacksburg 27 - Round of 8
Middlesex 20, Lexington 18 - Round of 8
Pensacola 31, Cleveland Eastern Suburbs 29 - Consolation
Hilton Head 22, Harrisburg 8 - Consolation

West
Beaumont 37, Wichita 5 - Round of 8
Northern State 33, Fort Worth 7 - Round of 8
Phoenix 31, Budd Bay 5 - Consolation
Mission 31, Eagle Rock 12 – Consolation

NEXT UP: Men’s Club Championships – Glendale, Colo., (May 30)
Semifinal – Northern State vs. Danbury
Semifinal – Beaumont vs. Middlesex

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