TAMPA, FL – For the first time in the club’s history, the Tampa Mayhem will host a USA Rugby League (USARL) Playoff game in Tampa. On Saturday, 06 August, the contest against the Atlanta Rhinos will take place at Tampa Catholic High School.
Along with reaching the next round of the playoffs, the Mayhem also seeks revenge after last Saturday’s 40-30 loss to the Rhinos. Barring any weather delays, this game will kick off at 3 p.m.
What is at stake for each team Saturday
By defeating Atlanta Saturday, the Tampa Mayhem (3-3-0) would earn a winning record with a bounce back victory over Atlanta. At that point, the Mayhem would also earn its way into the Southern Conference (SC) USA Rugby League (USARL) Championship Game.
With a win over Tampa, the Atlanta Rhinos (2-3-1) would move to 0.500 on the season. Then, the Rhinos would play for the SC USARL Championship. However, the loser of Saturday’s contest will see its 2016 USARL Season come to a close.
Atlanta Head Coach Nick Newlin speaks to RWU
On Thursday evening (04 August), Atlanta Rhinos Head Coach Nick Newlin took time to talk with Rugby Wrap Up about his team’s game against Tampa Saturday. While Newlin is cautiously optimistic after last week’s win, he stops short of overconfidence.
Newlin: “Without a doubt, last week’s win was great for us [Atlanta Rhinos] as we are heading into the playoffs. As a result, we built up some momentum in a hard fought battle with Tampa. Historically, Tampa always turns into one of our most physical games of the year. While we gave away too much ball offensively that hurt us in attack, we made up for it with stout defense, especially on our try line. This week, we have worked on patience with the ball and completing sets. Therefore, we are hopeful to get the win Saturday and get to the Southern Championship again this year”
When and where to find the SC USARL Championship Game
Unless the Central Florida Warriors (0-5-1) can upset the Jacksonville Axemen (6-0-0) Saturday evening, the Axemen will host the SC USARL Championship. Most likely, this game will take place on Saturday, 13 August. Regarding the location, the University of North Florida (UNF), rooted in Jacksonville, FL, will probably serve as the game’s venue.
Links to more details about the clubs, the SC USARL, and RWU
At this time, there is nothing more to share. As always, please feel free to comment below. Also, make sure to look for and “Like” our Facebook Rugby Wrap Up Page. In addition to Facebook, please follow us on Twitter@: @RugbyWrapUp, @BrianCCole, @Junoir Blaber, @MeetTheMatts, @LukeBienstock, @Ronan Nelson, @GeHar and @Declan Yeats.
P.S… In order to best keep up with the Jacksonville Axemen, Atlanta Rhinos, Tampa Mayhem, Central Florida Warriors, and the SE USA Rugby League (USARL) this season, enlist the help of Rugby Wrap Up.
To learn more about the Jacksonville Axemen, please visit the club’s website. For more information about the Atlanta Rhinos, please visit the club’s website. To learn more about the Central Florida Warriors, please visit the team’s website. For more information about the Tampa Mayhem, please visit the team’s website. For additional information about the USA Rugby League (USARL), please visit the USARL website.
