San Francisco, CA – The 2015 Pacific Rugby Premiership Championship match will be a repeat of the 2014 classic as both SFGG Rugby and The Glendale Raptors will meet again at Infinity Park on May 16, 3:00 PM KO (MST), sponsored by Canterbury of New Zealand.
The match will be live streamed via http://infinityparkatglendale.com/rugbytown/matchplayer
Last year SFGG prevailed as PRP Champions, after five lead changes, eventually holding off the Raptors to secure a 39 – 38 victory. The 2015 match up will prove to be an equally electric meet, as both teams have defeated one another in regular season play, both on their opponent’s home grounds.
SFGG have found themselves peaking at the perfect point of the season, after a mid-season slip where the SF team recorded two draws and a last minute, one point loss to OMBAC; they have finished the regular season with two comprehensive wins in high pressure, must win games; most recently defeating play-off contenders Belmont Shore 49 – 5.
SFGG finish the season with both the highest total number of points scored (495) and the lowest total number of points scored against (205), highlighting their continued ability to play attacking rugby while implementing a strong defensive system that has proved crucial to winning tight Championship games. SFGG Head Coach, Giacheri, a former Italy International, has stated that he is ‘pleased’ with the squad’s progress this season and ‘excited for the Grand Final’.
Glendale Raptors sealed their play-off spot in the final week of the regular season, needing just one point from the game, with a comfortable 27 – 7 victory over the Olympic Club. With a surprise loss to Belmont Shore in weeks prior, The Raptors made their run in to play-offs a little more complicated than they would have preferred.
The Raptors go in the Championship game with the best outright win percentage; totaling nine wins and three losses. The team has demonstrated huge depth and player diversity throughout the season as both injuries and National call ups to key players has not stopped The Raptors from winning. Coach Snyman, the former Sprinbok, has noted ‘Right now we are not only one club, but one team too – it doesn’t matter what division, we are all unified by one goal’.
With the conclusion of the second regular season, the 2015 PRP has continued to demonstrate the increasing caliber of play in American club rugby and the truly competitive nature of the league; a great advert for the game to have four possible teams able to secure a play-off spot based on the results of the final regular season round. In total, six Eagles, from the latest tour to South America have come from PRP clubs; justifying the PRP as an established proving ground for elite player development.
Geno Mazza, PRP Operations Manager, believes ‘the PRP is set for another classic final in 2015, as two powerhouses of the American club game go head to head for a second year running. What better advert for the league and this great game to have such a competitive season that culminates in an end of season spectacle. Expect to see bigger and better things, year on year, from the PRP, as we continue to grow this fantastic competition’.
For those unable to attend the match, there will be a live stream available online at infinityparkglendale.com with commentary provided by the dynamic duo ‘The Rugby Commentators’.