The Barbos travel to Seattle this weekend for a matchup with OPSB with playoff standings on the line.

Denver Barbarians’ match against Old Puget Sound Beach in Seattle Saturday has critical playoff implications.  The Barbarians are already in the playoffs, currently in 2nd place and in line for a home Quarterfinal playoff match on May 15th.  But to be assured of that home Quarterfinal playoff match, they need a win against OPSB, the surprise team of the year in the Rugby Super League (RSL).  See playoff possibilities below.

Currently, the Barbarians are 4-1, have 20 competition points, and second in the Western Conference to reigning RSL Champion San Francisco Golden Gate (25 points), who administered the Barbarians only loss on opening day.   The Chicago Griffins are in 3rd place at 4-2 with 19 points.  The Griffins have completed all their league matches and must sit back and await the results to see where they end up.  But they can’t catch the Barbarians for playoff placement.  That leaves only OPSB, 3-2 (16 points), who can pass the Barbarians.  Here are the options:

OPSB take 2nd place and a home playoff match if:

1.  A 5-point win (at least 4 tries)  by more than 7 points and Denver fails to score 4 tries.  OPSB 21, Barbarians 20.
2.  A 5-point win, and Barbarians get 1 bonus point.  OPSB 21, Barbarians 21 – OPSB wins on head-to-head result.
3.  OPSB wins by more than 7 points, doesn’t score at least 4 tries and Denver fails to score 4 tries. OPSB 20, Barbarians 20 – OPSB wins on head-to-head result.

Barbarians take 2nd place and host a playoff match in Denver if:

1.  A win of any type, regardless of how many bonus points OPSB gets.  Barbarians 24 or 25, OPSB 16, 17, or 18.  Chicago Griffins take 3rd place at 19 points.
2.  A draw.  Both sides would get 2 competition points.  Either side could get up to 1 more bonus competition point for 4 or more tries.  Barbarians 22 or 23, OPSB 18 or 19.  Chicago Griffins take 3rd with 19 points, even if OPSB gets 19 points, based on Chicago Griffins head-to-head win over OPSB.
3.  OPSB wins, gets no bonus points, and Barbarians get a bonus point for either 4 tries or a Barbarians lose by 7 points or less.  Barbarians 21, OPSB 20.  OPSB takes 3rd place in the Western Conference and Chicago Griffins take 4th place.
4.  OPSB gets a bonus point win (4 or more tries) and Barbarians, get a 2 bonus points (4 or more tries and lose by 7 or less points).  Barbarians 22, OPSB 21. OPSB takes 3rd place in the Western Conference and Chicago Griffins take 4th place.

OPSB has an explosive outside game.  They bolted to a 13-0 lead last weekend against SFGG, but finally succumbed 62-33, after trailing 24-23 at halftime.  Their early lead came from breaking their wings free on long runs.  For the season OPSB has scored 159 points (31.8 per match) and allowed 130 points (26 per match).  The Barbarians have scored 151 points (30.2 per match) and allowed 81 points (16.2 per match).   Denver will no doubt be trying to starve the fast OPSB backline of quick ball to attach with.  OPSB was bolstered last weekend by the return of Eagle Kevin Swirn.  OPSB fullback Bobby Fitzgerald is second in the RSL in scoring with 46 total points (3 tries, 8 conversions, and 5 penalty goals) and wing Isimeli Daveta leads OPSB with 5 tries. 

On the other hand Denver has its best balance between forwards and backs in some years.  Some may argue that injury to former USA Eagle Pat Quinn and the loss of John Vander Giessen to professional rugby in France have weakened the Barbarian pack.  Stalwarts for Denver’s pack in 2010 have been: props Chris Moreno, Josh Masek, and Adam Ulrich; hookers Andrew Post and Rob Moreno; locks Adam Drury, Travis Meininger, Mike Mangan, Ben Schnake, and Tom Hewitt; back rowers Nic Johnson (captain), Garrett Peterson, Dan O’Kane, and Justin Stencel. 

However, any perceived downturn in the forwards has been more than offset by a backline bolstered by flyhalf Taylor Howden (5 tries), center Mike Graham (3 tries and 35 total points, good for 5th in the league) and wing/fullback Phil Bolton ( 4 tries).  That group has finished off opportunities created by center Jake Humphrey; wings Jodie Kramer, Ben Haapapuro, and Ross Kantor; scrumhalf/flyhalf/center/fullback Maximo de Acheval, and scrumhalf Matt Trenary.

The match will likely go to the side that imposes its game plan on the other.  Will OPSB be successful in attacking wide?  Or, will the Barbarians succeed in ball control, possession, and methodical attack that has characterized their patches of dominance in matches.  Denver surely will need to avoid yellow cards that have stalled their dominance of matches.  The prime example of this tendency occurred against Chicago Griffins 2 weeks ago.  After dominating the Griffins for the 1st 40 minutes, carving up Chicago’s defense with 4 tries and leading 26-3 at the break, Denver got two 2nd half yellow cards and struggled to hang on for a 26-23 win. 

These two teams control their destiny this weekend.  The playoffs really begin for these teams on Saturday and the result greatly affects the finances of the clubs.  Whoever advances their cause this weekend and seizes a home playoff match saves the club plane fares, hotel rooms, and other travel costs – a huge prize in addition to playoff seeding.

The match kicks off at 1 pm, Pacific Coast time.  Results will be posted via Twitter at www.denverbarbarians.com.