Week 5 of the Pacific Rugby Premiership season is upon. This week teams will be separating themselves in the standings.
Glendale Raptors vs. Santa Monica
If you would have told Glendale prior to the season they would have a 2-1 record, with their only loss coming by a try against the only undefeated team in the league and without having yet played a home match they would have been extremely pleased. That is the exact position the Raptors now find themselves in with five straight matches in Colorado awaiting them.
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The team is coming off a 31-26 loss to SFGG but considering they were on the road and missing several players to injury, work, or Eagles camp they will feel they still put in a good performance. One of the reasons Glendale has had so much success this year is the balance they have on their team. No player has more than three tries (Chad London and Justin Pauga are tied). Plus, Michael Graham has really come through at fly-half for the club.
They will face a tough challenge in Santa Monica. The Dolphins may be only 1-3 on the season but they have been right there in every match. They’ve lost by one point twice and by nine points to SFGG. They have a very active offense led by fly-half Mathieu Lesgourgues and Dave Martini. Lesgourges is the second leading scorer in the PRP with 36 points while Martini is the leading try scorer with seven. The Dolphins downfall has been letting in tries. Defensively they have only kept Denver below 19 points. The rest of the time they have give up nearly 30 points match.
The match will be streamed live.
Belmont Shore vs. OMBAC (Postponed)
(Note: The match has been postponed) After a second week loss to Glendale, Belmont Shore have won two matches in a row and now sit second in the table behind SFGG. Driving Belmont this season as been the play of some key veterans. Although still young, Mike Teo is a veteran and has been a solid leader for the team. He’s been a bit of a jack of all trades popping up wherever needed. He has two tries and three conversions for the team. When Belmont was really ticking a few weeks ago it was because they had guest player Adam Siddall running the show. He’s back from Eagles camp and should give the team consistency in terms of putting up points on the board.
OMBAC likewise have a player that has been at the center of their success. Zach Pangelinan has been OMBAC’s best player this season and has to be in consideration for MVP. He leads the league with 52 total points (three tries, five conversions, nine penalties) but more importantly he’s scored tries at crucial points. Pangelinan has pushed OMBAC to 2-1 on the season but eventually he’s going to need help if OMBAC want to keep winning.
Belmont Shore and OMBAC met only a few weeks ago with Belmont winning 28-20. That was the match in which Siddall scored 23 of Belmont’s points. That match was close late before Belmont pulled away at the very end.
Olympic Club vs. Denver Barbarians
Both teams enter this match 0-3 on the season and desperate for a win. Olympic Club is still in a rebuilding phase and it was expected that they would struggle at times this year. For Denver their struggles are a surprise. After a successful year last year the Barbarians were expecting good things to start, even though they have yet to have a home match. Players like Max De Achaval and Taylor Howden have done their part but more balance is needed from the team.
Both clubs ranking as the two lowest scoring teams in the competition. Neither has yet to crack the 20 point barrier. Denver are averaging 15.6 points per match while Olympic Club are averaging 13 points a match. Defensively they have had their struggles as well. Something will have to give this weekend.