Last season Valor Christian lost to eventual Division 1 champs, Regis Raiders, when the outside defense of the Eagles collapsed in the semifinals, enabling the Jesuit comeback Denver East, for their measure, got through to the final to fall at the death, a maddening three points adrift. There will be a new, D1 champion crowned next weekend as Regis have failed to make the playoffs. Both Valor and East will get a shot at the title on May 11 down the Kettle at Infinity, but NCOS Falcons and Monarch resp., will stand resolute and in the way of the table’s top finishers today. East v Monarch kicks off later this morning on the Angels home ground at 11am, and if you’re quick like a bunny, you’ll be able to catch Valor v NCOS at the gentile pitch , which boots at 1pm.
East topped Monarch on the trot at the beginning of their campaign, 14-5, but the match was actually tighter than the close tallies indicated for Monarch overthrew a pair of lineouts, both collected by Angels, one of which led to a touch down and its conversion. Should Monarch have sorted their lineouts by now, this’ll be a close-run affair.
Valor bested NCOS, 33-15, also in a road win, and by the looks of their fair comprehensive victory over Angels last Saturday, albeit in challenging, slip-slop conditions, they’ll be favorites to obtain a berth in the finals with a happy ending this afternoon; that is, of course, should Eagles outside defenders stay sharp all match long!
