Queen City was raring to go to do battle with Colorado Rush in a Division III League matchup. The club was introducing their second set of jerseys - white with orange and black piping bought by sponsorship money raised by Ryan Orlowski. However, the day turned sour as the Rush showed up with 8 players; therefore they forfeited the league match. In order for us to get a match we had to loan the Rush players. So, essential we were playing against ourselves.

Game on and City kicked off. The Rush/City boys were bound and determine to give the men in Orange and Black a run for their money. Stout defense at first kept the Rush at bay. However, a clearing kick by Flyhalf Alex Knorr found the hands of City newcomer Ryan Clemons at fullback. Ryan proceeded to bob and weave his way through the City defense taking it to the house after about a 75 meter run to dot under the post. The conversion was true and Rush had a 0 - 7 lead after just 3 minutes in the match. After this it was all in the hands of the men in Orange and Black. Good defense and hard rucking by the forwards gave the City backline plenty of balls to work with. Outside Center Hayden Kinnear broke through the Rush defense to score a 5-pointer at the 6 minute mark. The conversion was no good to cut the Rush lead to 5 - 7. Three minutes later Center Kinnear found another hole in the Rush defense to dot down under the post. The conversion by Fullback Jake Kinch split the uprights to give City the lead for which they would not relinquish at 12 - 7 at the 9 minute mark. Two minutes later Flyhalf Alex Knorr saw a gap, step through it, and scored under the post. Fullback Kinch again was true on the conversion to extend City's lead to 19 - 7 at the 11 minute mark. Now it was time for the forwards to get in the act. Putting pressure on the Rush scrum inside their 22m produced good ball for the scrummies to work towards the line with pounding runs. They were finally rewarded as Hooker Luke Porter powered his way over the line for a 5-pointer. Fullback Kinch was again true with the conversion to take the lead to 26 - 7 at the 18th minute mark of the match. Once again putting pressure on the Rush scrum taking one against the head where No. 8 and Captain Dan Herr did a pick and go, fed Scrumhalf Charlie Keener who put Winger Eric Baliruno away for another try under the post. Scrumhalf Charlie Keener converted the try to extend the lead to 33 - 7 at the 25 minute mark. Unfortunately, we lost Inside Center Scott Dishner to a shoulder injury and because we had given the Rush our reserves we had to borrow a player from the sideline, Jack one of the Glendale Women's coaches stepped onto the pitch wearing City's colors. Jack scored the next try after some hard running at the 27th minute mark which went unconverted for a 38 - 7 lead. Some good offloading and support play produce the next try as No. 8 Dan Herr took a great offload to the house for a 43 - 7 lead at the 31 minute mark. Jack finished the scoring for the half after some good backline play saw Winger Josh Evans break down the sideline and off- loading to Jack to the inside who took it the rest of the way for a 5-pointer that went unconverted to extend the lead to 48 - 7 at halftime.

The reserves came back over to put on the City colors for the second half. The men in Orange and Black picked right up where they left off in the first half. The forwards were dominant throughout the match stealing hooks and lineouts all match long. One such effort saw Hooker Luke Porter power his way over the line for a try which Winger Eric Baliruno added the extras for a 55 - 7 lead at the 43rd minute mark. Flyhalf Alex Knorr saw space up the middle, cut to the side, and scored to the side of the post. The conversion was wide for a 60 - 7 lead at the 46 minute mark to the men in Orange and Black. A minute later Outside Center Hayden Kinnear running hard broke free to score under the post for his hat trick. Loose Head Prop Eric Gustafson added the extras in a drop kick that barely crossed the bar to give City a 67 - 7 lead at the 47th minute mark. City's extras then gave the Rush a chance to feel good as Mike Dellafoire another newcomer to the club broke free for two tries at the 50 minute and 54 minute mark with the second one being converted to cut the City lead to 67 - 19. Once again the men in White went back on the attack. Winning the majority of the set pieces the forwards were rumbling. Second Row Lock Forward Adam Kuhl supporting made the break down the sideline to score in the corner. The try went unconverted to give City a 72 - 19 lead at the 56 minute mark. Again some strong support and good off loads saw Second Row Lock Forward Nate Feldman pick up a loose ball, pin his ears back, go on a 40 meter romp, and scored just ahead of the cover defense for his first ever Rugby Try. Can you say Zulu Warrior!!! The conversion was again wide to give City a 77- 19 lead at the 60 minute mark of the match. The final score come a few minutes later as Winger Eric Baliruno scored his second try on the day with some nifty running and Eric added the extras himself to close out the scoring at the 66th minute mark. Referee Greg Wolf blew the final whistle after 70 minutes to give Queen City another convincing team win in spite of receiving the forfeit earlier in the day.

His three tries on the day earned Hayden Kinnear his second in a row consecutive Back Man-of-the-Match. Through his leadership, great support, hard running, and true tackling earned Captain and No. 8 Dan Herr the Scrummie Man-of-the-Match. The gentlemen in the Orange and Black (white today) played a great team game. Their support and off-loads were tremendous. The forwards were dominant in the set pieces and around the breakdown. The backs ran good lines, hitting at great angles, and running hard with the pill. Defensive was once again very solid. Now it is onto the Harlequins in two weeks.

GO CITY!!