Glendale, Co., May 29, 2010 – The Glendale Raptors won the ground war in their first taste of international rugby play here but couldn’t defuse the opponent’s air attacks. A large holiday weekend crowd at Infinity Park saw the Raptors out-score the Welsh Warriors three to two in number of Trys only to suffer defeat because they couldn’t control the skies.

Glendale Raptors – 15
Welsh Warriors –   28

Two booming ballistic missiles put the Warriors up 6-0 in the first 10 minutes of play and hinted at the air strikes to follow. The Raptors got on the scoreboard with a Try at the 25-minute mark but failed to make the two-point conversion kick that would have put them in the lead. Glendale scored a second Try just before halftime, narrowing the Warriors lead to 16 to 10.

The Raptors scored a third Try to open the second half but again failed to make the conversion kick. The score was 16-15 at that point. Despite being locked out of the end zone the entire second period, a barrage of go-for post three-point conversion kicks gave the Warriors a 28-15 win in the historic clash.

The Churchill Cup returns to Infinity Park with games June 5, 9 and 13. Then on June 19 the Raptors will get a rematch of sorts when Welsh Universities come here play. In U.S. competition the National Men’s Club Championships are being played here June 5-6 followed by the National Collegiate All-Star Championships on June 10 and 12. Information: www.glendalerugby.com.