Playing on the artificial turf adjacent to Dick’s Stadium following a heavy spring snow storm the Raptors ran out to a 31 – 14 victory over the host Denver Rugby.  The field was in excellent condition as both teams came ready to renew their heated competition.

Denver Rugby got on the board first as inside center Leif Gipson slotted an early penalty kick four minutes in. Gipson missed his next kick two minutes later as the Raptors piled up some early penalties.  The Raptors got on the board at the eleventh minute when prop Mike Tafel kicked his first penalty kick.  Gipson punished Glendale with another penalty at seventeen minutes and then the Raptors scored a fine counter attacking try form a turnover when number seven Brad Winbush scooped up a lost ball, made a short evasive break to put wing Josh Schmitz away for a converted try, 10 – 6.

The Raptors scored off the ensuing kickoff following a series of phases as center Justin Howley crossed over for the second converted try.  Denver Rugby was not about to allow the match to get away from them as, with 10 minutes left in the half, Denver drove a five meter lineout over following a couple of well organized mauls for an unconverted try. With two minutes left the Raptors turned the ball over inside their twenty-two and then were penalized at the ensuing tackle/contest.  Gipson once again hit the penalty kick for a 17 – 14 Raptor lead.

Five minutes into the second half, Howley scored a quick try from second phase to put the Raptors out 24 – 14.  The score stayed at this point as both teams moved back and forth up the pitch, Denver utilizing the accurate boot of Gipson to put Glendale back into their territory while Glendale chose to vary the run and the occasional kick. It wasn’t until the seventy-seventh minute that this second half deadlock was finally broken as reserve wing Mike Pettes scored the final Raptor try following a multiple series of phases for the final 31 – 14 score.