The Barbos lost to Chicago in the Finals in Kansas City, but locked up a spot in the National Championships.

A Players: Mark Bokhoven, Phil Bolton, Maximo de Achaval ©, Ben Haapapuro, Taylor Howden, Ross Kantor, Drew Legge, Tyson Meek, Scott Murphy, Garrett Peterson, Dewon Reed, Matt Trenary
B Players: Steve Bosse, Jay Clark, Chris Conway, Darrin Butler ©, Chris Moreno, Quinn Williams, Brad Winbush

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

The majority of the players drove in 2 big Vans, with half arriving in Kansas City on Friday night at 11:00 pm and the others arriving at 3:30 am and checked into the, Holiday Inn at the Plaza in Kansas City, MO.  Saturday morning the club had a quick breakfast at the Hotel and it was off to the KC Polo Grounds for the matches.

The Western Club 7s Super Regional Qualifier (2 of 3) portion of the tournament was a 12-team event, with 4 pools of 3.  The 12 teams in the field were interested in garnering one of the 3 West RFU seeds to the National Club 7s championship sweet 16.  The Qualifier served a double purpose as being one of the USA Sevens backed Club Championship Series (CCS) events with the top 2 spots getting invitations to the Series finale in Las Vegas Feb. 2011 during the USA IRB Sevens event. The Barbarians were seeded #1 by virtue of a 1st place standing through the previous WRFU 7s event in Dallas.  There were also Men’s and U19’s social divisions.   All of the WRFU seed were still up for grabs and a strong finish at this tourney would secure one for the National Club 7s.  The Qualifier bracket included 2 Midwest RFU teams in the Chicago Lions and Youngbloodz (MN) that were not eligible for the West seeds but were for the CCS qualifier and cash prize.

The tourney also marked the first time since the 2005 Oklahoma Tourney that the Barbos were able to take a second side to an event outside of Colorado.  So we will start with the B’s.  Due to work and family commitment as well as a few injuries in the week leading up to the KC 7s only 7 players were able to suit up for the Bs.  Yep, no subs, but those 7 men did not blink in the face of this, girded their loins and strode confidently into battle.  

B side - Two Pool Matches:
1st Match vs. Kansas City Rogues 24/7
2nd Match vs. Aspen 0/45

Winning one of the two Pool matches got the B’s into the Quarterfinals
3rd Match vs. Chicago Lion Quarter Final 0/45

The 7s Bs all played every minute and made it out of KC alive with loins intact!  Next year let’s bring 12 players.

A side Two Pool Matches:
1st Match vs. St. Louis Bombers 42/7
2nd Match vs. Youngbloodz (MN) 24/7

During the pool matches the Barbo’s had played all of the members of the squad.  At the end of the pool play the Barbos were undefeated and won the pool outscoring the opposition 66 to 14, 10 tries to 2.  We (de Achaval 7, Howden 1) made 8 of 10 conversions, many from difficult angles.

3rd Match vs. San Antonio Quarter Final 35/0

In the Quarter final the Barbarians met San Antonio just as they had 2 weeks previously in Dallas with a similar result, dominated possession and position.  The team scored 5 converted tries, winning 35 to 0, 5 tries to 0, with 5 of 5 conversions made.  Kantor picked up a nasty head cut in the last Quarter Final matches and was unavailable for the semis and final.

4th Match vs. Aspen, Semi Final 26/10

In the Semi final the Barbarians played our friends from up the hill, Aspen in an emotional and spirited match.  The Barbos kicked off and pressured Aspen into a knock on.  From the ensuing Barbo scrum and 2 rucks the ball went wide and Bolton scored.  Bolton scored another try, followed by a try Bokhoven as the half ended.  The Barbo were up 19 to 0 at halftime.  30 seconds into the second half Bokhoven took the kick off and scored.  Barbos 26 to 0.  At this point the match deteriorated a bit with the Barbos holding on to their lead and Aspen under severe pressure.  Teddy Omondi scored an unconverted try for Aspen in the 5th minute of the period and then Brian Naqica was sent off for foul play followed up by him berating the referee.  Omondi scored another unconverted try for Aspen as time expired.  The Barbos played a strong overall team game of pressure defense and consistent attacking, before taking their foot off the gas at the end, with the club winning 26 to 10, 4 tries to 2, with 2 of 4 conversions made.

5th Match vs. Chicago Lions, Final 5/29

Barbo Starters in the Final:
Mark Bokhoven, Phil Bolton, Maximo de Achaval ©, Ben Haapapuro, Taylor Howden, Dewon Reed, Matt Trenary Subs: Garrett Peterson (Trenary 2nd - 3rd min), Tyson Meek (Howden 2nd - 8th min), Scott Murphy (Bolton 2nd - 8½th  min)
Ref: T. Luscombe

In the Championship the Barbarians played the Chicago Lions.   The Lions had gotten past a much improved Dallas Harlequins side 24 to 7 in their semifinal.  At this point the Barbos were already the top West RFU team for the tourney and had just played a very emotional semi final.  The final was played with 10-minute halves.  The Lions came out with more fire and played the entire match with more poise than did the Barbos.  The Lions stole the Barbo tap back off of the kickoff and one missed tackle later had scored an unconverted try 15 seconds into the match.  0 - 5 Lions.  The teams traded possessions and then Howden scored an unconverted try for the Barbos off a Lineout.  5 – 5 tie 5½ minutes into the match.  The teams traded possessions once again.  The Lions were awarded a penalty off of a scrum followed by another penalty at the next tackle.  The Barbos absorbed this, pressured and forced a Lions mistake.  The Barbos won their own scrum and kicked, regained possession but  a bad pass led to as late Lions try against the run of play as the half ended. The halftime score was 5 -12 Lions.

The second half started with the Lions kicking off and regaining the ball.  However strong defense saw the Barbos awarded a scrum.  The Lions hooker unbound early and drove straight through the scrum, undetected by the referee.  This enable the Lions scrumhalf to take the ball and score a converted try 3 minutes into the period.  Score 5 to 17 Lions.  The Barbos responded with pressure off of the next kick off.  The resulting Barbo scrum went as did the previous one with the Lions Hooker boring through the scum and the Barbo’s scrumhalf, Reed unable to handle the ball.  The Lions won their own scrum and scored a converted try quickly after some poor Barbo defense.  Score 5 – 24 Lions at 6 minutes.  At the next kick off the Barbos won the ball but were immediately penalized at the tackle. The Lions quick tapped and scored a try. Score 5 - 29 Lions at 8 minutes.  The teams traded possessions once again and the match ended and the Barbos had lost 5 to 29, 1 try to 5.

The Blues club ran a very good event.  Friends and family of Bokhoven and Hapaapuro made for a support group during the day which was much appreciated.   We adjourned to the Hotel pool; had some great BBQ at Arthur Bryant’s and then piled into the Vans for the ride back to Denver.

Denver is currently the top 7s team in the Western Territory of USA Rugby and has qualified for the USA Rugby National Club 7s.  The last WRFU Super Regional Qualifier is in Denver on July 24 at Dick’s sporting Goods Park and will determine the final seed and for the West RFU as well as the ranking of those teams.  The Barbos can finish as no worse than the 2nd of the 3 WRFU seeds and will aim in the Denver 7s Tournament to secure the top spot.  This is the Barbarians tenth consecutive appearance the National Club 7s Championship and will be the 17th time in 25 years.