St. Louis Bombers Rugby Football Club

The Denver Barbarians scored 3 late tries to overtake the St. Louis Bombers 41-29 in a thrilling RSL match that saw each team score 5 tries. St. Louis led at halftime and with 15 minutes left in the match, but could not hold off the determined home team.

St. Louis opened the scoring when halfback Bryan Lay darted in from close range after several pounding runs from the big men. Denver flyhalf Jason Kelly then chipped in a penalty kick to draw Denver close at 5-3. Bomber lock Hayden Mexted then scored with a thumping run from 15 meters out to put St. Louis up 10-3. St. Louis flyhalf Rene Monette finished off an overload to push the Bombers in front 15-3. Denver's Kelly added a penalty kick just before the halftime whistle to bring the score at the break to 15-6 in favor of St. Louis.

Denver came out of their locker room at beautiful Shea Stadium with renewed enthusiasm and were rewarded 2 minutes into the half when flanker Leon Neville scored in the corner. Kelly's sideline conversion closed the gap to 15-13 in favor of St. Louis. Denver wing Julian DuCastel scored 8 minutes later from a grubber kick to give the Barbos their first lead of the afternoon- 20-15.

St. Louis answered quickly when halfback Lay picked the pocket of his opposite and launched an attack deep in Denver's end. Flanker Alex McPheeters scored beside the posts from a nifty Monette assist to regain the lead for St. Louis 22-20. From the ensuing kickoff, the Bombers worked the blindside and wing Chris Welch blazed down the touchline to push St. Louis ahead 29-20.

The Barbos seized their chance to turn the momentum when referee Tim Luscombe yellow carded Mexted with 15 minutes to play. Denver halfback Tyson Meek scored two converted tries from the edge of rucks to push the Barbos back in front 34-29 in injury time. Denver did a good job of maintaining possession in the dying stages, and a Link Wilfley chip-and-chase try in the 44th minute brought the final score to: Denver 41 St. Louis 29.