BARBOS DEFEAT EASTSIDE BANSHEES 67-17
Your Denver Barbarians defeated the Eastside Banshees 67-17 Saturday afternoon in the first of two playoff legs for the Northern Regional held in Chicago. While the Barbos seemed to be in charge early, it was the team from Minneapolis Minnesota who drew first blood and scored the games opening try six minutes into the match. Down 5-0, the men in Green & White drew a line in the sand and scored the next 45 points unanswered. Tries came quick and consistently in the first half as the Barbo attack was clicking on all cylinders. Standouts Hank Kafonec, Alex Wormer & Liam Wynne were all pivotal in creating a wave of scoring that overwhelmed the mid-west opponent.
Christian Rubio and Leland Beatley anchor the lineout as Alex Wormer, Luca Tani & Max Murphy get set for lift off.
The Barbos lost their focus in the second half, and let their 45-5 lead get squeezed down to 45-17 after two tries from the Banshees. A lack of discipline saw the Barbos down to 13 men as multiple yellow cards were drawn around the 60th minute. Luckily, a strong showing from the Barbo finishers off the bench set the ship back on course after the Barbos were awarded a penalty try. Three more tries were punched in during the final 10 minutes as the men in Green & White put their final stamp on the game.
TRY SCORERS: Alex Wormer (2x), Leland Beatley, Hank Kafonec (2x), Dante Brown, Luca Tani (2x), Landon Banks, Devarius “Beanie” Miller, Penalty Try
Noah Pflaum was 5/7 off the tee for try conversions on the day.
Scrumhalf Hank Kafonec watches the ball move through the scrum as the Barbos defend their own try line.
The team will face the Chicago Blaze tomorrow in a “winner take all” final match. Playing two XV’s games in back to back days is never easy, but the Barbos have been training hard and fast over the past three months for this very moment. The Chicago Blaze are the home club of this playoff venue, and the Barbos can be sure that they will face a tough test as they look to move through another mid west opponent.
Coaches Tim Hutchins (left) and Brian Erichsen (right) have some tough roster decisions ahead of Sunday’s match.
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Lastly, don’t forget to BLEED GREEN!