After months of duking it out on fields across America, the Super League, DI, DII, and DIII club champions will be crowned this weekend. The Super League final will be held in Seattle on saturday while the DI, DII, and DII semi-finals and final will be held at Infinity Park in Glendale on saturday and sunday. The Super League final should be available online while at least some matches from Infinity Park will be televised. So with that in mind, let's take a look at the match-ups and schedule. (Make sure you buy your tickets to Infinity Park here.)
Super League-
Could you ask for a better matchup than two undefeated teams in OPSB an NYAC for the Super League final? Both teams have been absolutely dominant throughout the regular season and statistically speaking, not much separates the two. OPSB ended the season scoring 32 tries, 53 conversions, and had a point differential of +261. NYAC scored 35 tries, 51 conversions, and had a point differential of +242.
Both teams are loaded with national teams players. Brian Doyle, Mike Petri, Lou Stanfill, Toby L'Estrange (NYAC), Pate Tuilevuka, and Andrew Durutalo (OPSB) were all called into the latest national team camp by Eagles head coach Mike Tolkin. OPSB also has U.S.A. 7's players Mike Palefau and Miles Craigwell in their lineup. While having national team players on their roster has been a plus all season, it could be a negative factor this weekend as some of those players may be unavailable because of national team duty. If that is the case, the edge could go to OPSB who stand to lose fewer of their key players. For example, OPSB is quarterbacked by former Fiji 7's player Emosi Vucago and can bring legend Waisale Serevi off the bench as well.
It's not only the players on both sides that are of high calibre, but it is their overall organization as well. Both teams are led by able coaches in Bruce McLane (NYAC) and Evan Haigh (OPSB). Both organizations have made a point to running their practice sessions as professionally as possible and are on solid footing. Seeing solid organizations rewarded with a trip to a title match should come as little surprise, but it is still nice to see.
It should be a tight game, so if you are in the Seattle area, go check out the match at Magnuson Park at 1 p.m. local time.
DI-
Semi-finals: Belmont Shore vs. Metropolis and Glendale vs. Palmer.
Glendale have to be considered the favorites to repeat as champions. Not only are they playing on their home field but have a star-studded lineup as well. Even thought they will be without the services of Eagles Nic Johnson (injury), and possibly James Paterson (camp), they still have the veteran Nese Malifa, Stan Moaalii, and Dewon Reed. DI or not, Glendale might have the best team in the country and have shown that all season. For Palmer, it will be a tough ask to defeat the Raptors but they have shown they can knock off tough teams in the past, such as the Chicago Lions and they should not be discounted. The Raptors have lost before so it can be done.
Belmont Shore are favored to win over Metropolis. The team from Southern California had a very strong season against some tough competition and will be looking to show that they have what it takes to be the champions. Metropolis however, will want to show the rugby community that there are strong DI teams from somewhere other than the West. The team from Minnesota are a scrappy bunch that won't give up and could surprise Belmont. Metropolis also have plenty of experience in the semi-finals as well.
In the end however, Glendale and Belmont are two of the best teams in the country. The DI title should be decided between the two in a strong match. The absence of Johnson and Paterson will be a big blow to the Raptors, but they still have the pieces to repeat at champions.
DII-
Semi-finals: Rocky Gorge vs. Santa Rosa and Old Aztecs vs. Wisconsin.
Rocky Gorge, from Laurel, Maryland have quietly been building a strong side and should be tough. The same goes from Santa Rosa who are often overshadowed in Northern California by "bigger" clubs. Old Aztecs from San Diego are another tough team who will go up against a relatively unknown Wisconsin side. One of the great things about DII, and DII for that matter, is that you never know how one team will match up against another. These divisions are so wide open and that makes for good rugby.
DIII-
Semi-finals: New Orleans vs. Tuscon and South Bay vs. Philly Whitemarsh.
New Orleans have had a strong season, but then again all the clubs in the semi-finals have. The quality of rugby may not be as high as in the other divisions, but all the matches should be close and entertaining.
Schedule-
Saturday
- New Orleans vs. Tucson, 11:00 a.m. et/8:00 a.m. pt
- South Bay vs. Philly Whitemarsh, 1:00 p.m. et/10:00 a.m. pt
- Rocky Gorge vs. Santa Rosa, 3:00 p.m. et/12:00 a.m. pt
- OPSB vs. NYAC, 4:00 p.m. et/1:00 p.m. pt
- Old Aztecs vs. Wisconsin, 5:00 p.m. et/2:00 p.m. pt
- Belmont Shore vs. Metropolis, 6:30 p.m. et/4:30 p.m. pt
- Palmer vs. Glendale 8:30 p.m. et/5:30 p.m. pt
- DIII Consolation, 12:30 p.m. et/9:30 a.m. pt
- DIII Final, 1:00 p.m. et/10:00 a.m. pt
- DII Consolation, 1:30 p.m. et/10:30 a.m. pt
- DII Final, 2:30 p.m. et/11:30 a.m. pt
- DI Consolation, 4:30 p.m. et/1:30 p.m. pt
- DI Final, 5:00 p.m. et/2:00 p.m. et
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