Arkansas State University shook up the rugby balance of power as they beat the Pacific Rugby Premiership club champions, the Glendale Raptors 59-24 Saturday in Glendale.

It's a rarity for a top college team to play a top club team, although it does happen, and there have been times, such as 2006 when Cal beat NYAC, or 2007 when Cal beat OMBAC, that a college team bests a top club (NYAC and OMBAC were defending Super League champions).

But still ASU's feat was impressive as they ran in 59 points on a Glendale team led by USA hooker Zach Fenoglio and featuring several other national team hopefuls.

"Glendale is a great rugby outfit, and we were privileged enough to be invited up for a game against one of the USA top premiere rugby men’s team," said ASU Head Coach NeMani Delaibatiki. "One of our goals as a college rugby side is to build bridges with men's teams, and to provide our young men with options, and networks they can access if they want to continue their rugby past college rugby here at Arkansas State University. Glendale has a professional setup, sets the standards for what other men's premiere teams in the countries should aspire too in regards to organization, state-of-the-art facility, and playing the game of rugby at the next level here in the USA, and so for us this is one of the most important trips this fall season. We knew what we were up against when we penciled in Glendale as an opponent this fall."

Having lost 11 seniors, five of won were All Americans, to graduation, and with three freshmen in their game-day squad, Arkansas State might have expected a drubbing.

"We respect Glendale a lot, a team that probably a few of guys will be playing with once they graduate from college and this is great way to build those bridges for the future of both teams," said Delaibatiki. "Coach Andre Snyman and his coaching staff were kind enough to put us on their schedule, and we were welcomed and hosted well by them. We wanted to get tested to see where we were at, and this was the best way to do it, before we compete in the Varsity Cup next spring 2015, which is Americas top college rugby premiere competition. No team travels to lose, and from the get go, that was our platform. We came to win, and to give it all we have for 80 minutes and everything else will take care of itself. One thing we really wanted to work on was our defensive structures, and fine tuning it, from knowing when to blitz and when to drift, and to always try to see if we can push them behind the gain line and not let them gain any momentum, because we all know a Glendale team with momentum and space is lethal, and they can attack from anywhere so we wanted to make sure that we took that option away from them and I think our guys did exactly that for 80 minutes."
 
It took a team effort. The ASU forwards led the way up front, being physical and aggressive on attack, and in the rucks, providing their speedsters with good positions to attack from. Kirk Pretorius, a loose forward who can also play wing, was very strong and in the backs the "Flyin' Hawaiian" Dale Bates sprinted 80 meters down the sideline to open the scoring.

Early tries by ASU were from Glendale mistakes, and the pace of the Red Wolves, along with their good ball handling, did the rest. Kansas City product Michael Baska, flyhalf Robert "Zinzan" Elan-Puttick, and power-running Ricardo Lategan of Grey College of South Africa all were dangerous. So were USA age-grader NeMia Qoro, All American Gavin Brown of Indianapolis, and Bates, while captain Tom Haussrer kept things settled at fullback, ASU had the speed to attack as well, particularly from turn over ball and loose play, and were quiet brilliant in finding spaces in tight spots. Having 2013 USA 7s nationals MVP Dylan Carrion on the bench clearly shows the depth the young ASU team has, a strategy that worked well as Carrion ended up scoring two tries and setting up another when he came on in the second half.

Glendale countered with some good attacking work from Chad London, but they just couldn't contain the ASU attack.

ASU flyhalf Elan-Puttick was the man of the match for ASU, leading the team in tackles and handling the offense, as well.
 
ASU next game is at home against the University of Arkansas Razorbacks on October 4th during homecoming weekend for the "Battle of Arkansas" Challenge Cup.