This story originally appeared on GlendaleRaptors.com
A different week ended with the same result for the Glendale Raptors (9-0), adding more points to their lead in the Pacific Rugby Premiership (PRP) race with an emphatic 85-3 victory over the Santa Monica Dolphins this past weekend.
While the final score line was indicative of a dominating performance, once again the Raptors got off to a slow start as Santa Monica opened up the scoring with a penalty and a 3-0 lead. Glendale finally scored its first points 25 minutes into the match when prop Chris Hathaway scored the game’s first try.
“The first 40 minutes was a bit of a slow wind and mixed emotions,” Raptors head coach Andre Snyman said. “We didn’t know what was going on. It looked like the guys were playing in slow motion.”
Nevertheless, Glendale slowly built up a 19-3 lead by halftime.
“We said we need to change something and I think the boys made a mind shift and an attitude shift,” Snyman continued. “It showed in the second half. They came out and started playing good rugby.”
The Raptors’ gaffer cited a “back to basics” approach, and it paid off. Glendale built its lead to 61-3 by the 65th minute and by the end of the match, eight different Raptors scored tries in what ended as an 85-3 win.
The Raptors next match against San Francisco Golden Gate Rhinos at Infinity Parkis April 16 at 3pm. Tickets are available online at glendaleraptors.com or at the gate. The match will be live streamed via Eversport TV at rugbytown.us/stream