Barbos beat Dallas Harlequins 36 - 22 in finals of the first regional qualifier of the season.

Staff:  Steve Laporta; Coach, Howard Kent; Assit. Coach/Manager.

We arrived in Dallas on a Friday night flight just before midnight and it was 90 degrees and 90% humidity!   The team all packed in the Holiday Inn Courtesy Van shuttle to get us to the Holiday Inn Express DFW by 12:30 am.  A 7 am trip back to DFW for the team van was a welcome break from sleep for the tour Manager.  Saturday morning the club had a quick breakfast at the Hotel and then took off to Glencoe Park.

The Western Club 7s Super Regional Qualifier (1 of 3) was a 12-team event, with 4 pools of 3 teams.  The teams in the field were competing for the 3 WRFU seeds to the National Club 7s championship final 16.  The Barbarians were seeded #1 by virtue of a 1st place finish in last year’s Super Regional series (the 5th in a row).  Last year’s #2 and #3 seeds from the West RFU, Aspen and Glendale did not participate in the Dallas 7s (as they had in previous years) which made for a weaker event.  8 of Denver’s 12-man squad from the 2009 Nationals was unavailable.  The Barbos team averaged 25 years old with the youngest 19. The Barbos had not played in any minor tourneys prior to this one and The Kansas and Texas clubs had already played in 2 or 3 minor events coming into the Dallas 7s Qualifier.  Also the host Dallas Harlequins chose to hold the event on only on pitch, which made for a long day.

Two pool Matches:
1st Match vs. Houston Area Rugby Club 24/12
2nd Match vs. Arkansas Griffins 45/0

During the pool rounds the Barbo’s had played all of the members of the squad and received solid contributions from all.  Both of the Pool matches started with the Barbos receiving the Kick off and returning it for a try immediately by moving the ball, creating a ruck, re-winning the ball and scoring (a trend that would continue throughout the day).  At the end of the pool play the Barbos were undefeated and won the pool outscoring the opposition, 9 tries to 2, with 8 different Babros scoring the tries.  The opposition 2 tries being scored while the Barbos were a man down due to a yellow card.  The team made 7 of 11 conversions, an acceptable rate, that should improve as we move toward the Nationals.  The Dallas Harlequins, KC Blues and KC Rogues teams all showed improvement from previous years in winning their pools.
 
3rd Match vs. San Antonio Quarter Final 35/0

In the Quarter final the Barbarians dominated possession by re-winning  4 of 5 of their own kickoffs.  The team scored 5 converted tries, winning 35 to 0, 5 tries to 0, with 5 of 5 conversions made.

4th Match vs. Kansas City Rogues, Semi Final 38/0

In the Semi final the Barbarians played the Kansas City Rogues.  AS had happened in the 2 pool matches the Barbo received the kick off and scored immediately with Mark Bokhoven taking the ball and flat out beating the opposition to the goal.  After which the Barbos pressure defense and attacking experience showed through and a particularly fine complete team performance saw the club winning 38 to 0, 6 tries to 0, with 4 of 6 conversions made.

5th Match vs. Dallas Harlequins, Final 33/26  (10 minute halves)

Barbo Starters in the Final:
Mark Bokhoven, Phil Bolton, Maximo de Achaval ©, Ben Haapapuro, Taylor Howden, Jody Kramer, Dan Murphy. Subs: Ross Kantor (Bolton 2nd  - 8th min)
Ref: P. Winklebaur

In the Championship the Denver Barbarians met the Dallas Harlequins.  The Quins had taken care of the KC Blues in the other semifinal 26 to 7.  As in 3 for the previous 4 matches Denver received the opening  kickoff and created a quick try for Dan Murphy 15 seconds into the match, which was not converted by de Achaval.  5 – 0 Denver.  Denver then failed to kick off the ball 10 meters and the ensuing Dallas Free Kick who controlled the ball.  Eventually the Quins were awarded a 5 meter scrum and a missed tackle led to an unconverted try by Dylan Carrion and a 5 – 5 tie 3 minutes into the match.  The Barbos received the next kickoff but did retain the ball the teams exchanged penalty possessions with the Barbos de Achaval scoring and converting his own try in the 6th minute.  12 – 5 Denver. 
Again Denver then failed to kick off the ball 10 meters and Dallas took the Free Kick, controlled the ball and 2 missed tackles later scored a converted try.  12 – 12 tie 8 minutes into the match.   Now it was the Quins turn not to make the Kickoff go 10 meters.  The Barbos took the tap penalty and a fine break by Haapapuro led to a de Achaval try which he converted in the 9th minute.  The halftime score stood at 19 to 12 favoring Denver.

The second half again started with the Barbos not quite making 10 meters with their own Kickoff.  Dallas were eventually awarded a penalty and scored a converted try 2 minutes into the half.  Score 19 – 19.   The Quins kicked off and rewon the ball one missed tackle and they scored a converted try.  19 – 26 Dallas with 3 minutes gone in the 2nd half.  The Barbarians turned the ball over after the next kickoff.  After a penetrating run, the Dallas defense forced Denver into touch deep in Dallas territory.  Denver stole the Dallas line out with Kramer scoring for Denver at the 7 minute.   de Achaval’s conversion was good, score 26 – 26.  The Barbos won their own kick off but a knock on led to a Quins scrum.  Denver drove Dallas off the ball and after 3 phases Howden scored a try with 8 ½ minutes gone in the second half, which de Achaval’s converted , 33 – 26 Denver.  Dallas received the next kick off but the Denver defense took the ball. Both sides played out the remained of the match with very strong defense.  The match ended and the Barbos had won 33 to 26, 5 tries to 4.

The Harlequins club ran a good event and the referees performed admirably in the 100 degree heat.  Friends and family of Trenary, Bolton and Howden made for a support group during the day which was much appreciated.  The Barbos enjoyed some fine dining, returned to the hotel pool and then went out for the evening to enjoy the cultural amenities of Dallas.  Sunday morning the team made a late and hasty departure for the airport and early return to Denver.