Preview: US Super League, semiFinals
Fri, 23 May 2008 11:58
The race to reach the United States Super League (SL) Final has been narrowed to four contenders - with the semiFinals taking place this weekend.
Just Belmont Shore, the Denver Barbarians, the Chicago Lions and New York Athletic Club (NYAC) remain with their sights set on the prize.
The Final two victors will face off in Glendale, Colorado, at Infinity Park on May 31.
We look at the semiFinals!
New York Athletic Club v Denver Barbarians
Travers Island, New York - (14.00 EDT)
At home at Travers Island last weekend, the top-seeded New York knocked off No.7 San Francisco Golden Gate 19-14. Four first-half penalty kicks in NYAC's favour put them up to a 12-0 lead at the half, as SFGG struggled to get a rhythm going early on.
Despite a five minute scoring surge that brought San Francisco within five points, NYAC was able to hold its ground until the end and now just one team stands in the way of a trip to Colorado for the Final – the Denver Barbarians.
"We are well prepared and ready for this game. Whatever the outcome is, it will be the correct one because we have done our preparation," NYAC's Bruce McLane said.
"Denver is an excellent team with big players and hard runners. It should be a great spectacle on what is forecast to be a beautiful day."
Rolling off a 39-24 win on the road against Charlotte in the quarterFinals, the fifth-seeded Denver Barbarians head East to Travers Island looking for a victory that would put them back in the SL Finals for the first time since 1999, when the Barbos last nabbed the championship title.
Belmont Shore v Chicago Lions
Tetzlaff Middle School, Cerritos, California - (15.00 PDT)
The Chicago Lions, which narrowly clinched the No.8 playoff spot, defeated the higher seeded Boston Rugby Club 49-15 last week and now travel to the West Coast for a rematch of the 2007 SL Final against Belmont Shore.
Last time around, Belmont finished out in front to emerge as the Rugby Super League champions and should put up a strong showing again, as they look to defend their title.
Belmont Shore plays host to the Lions following a seemingly easy 36-8 victory over the Boston Irish Wolfhounds at home.
This weekend's match is set to be held at Tetzlaff Middle School instead of Belmont Shore's usual home field at Cal State Long Beach and features a curtain raiser between the Tongan Under-20 World Cup Team and the Southern California Griffins Collegiate side at (13.00 PDT).
