Regular season returns have been filed by Austin, Montauk, NYAC, Cincinnati,
St. Louis and Boulder; winners of the Cup in their respective Tri-Series
competitions. As this weekend's MLR regular season deadline approaches,
earnings have yet to be reported by West coast powerhouses Hayward and
Huntington Beach, who finalize business with a double-headed death match to
determine the champion in Group Eight.

Hayward Griffins at Huntington Unicorns

Due to a scheduling conflict earlier this season, the Unicorns and Griffins
play a one-up match that counts for two this weekend to decide King of the
Hill in Group Eight. Huntington was led from the wilderness last week by
flyhalf Marc Larrue's 58-meter, manna-from-heaven penalty goal at full time
to nip Back Bay 23-22. The Unicorns dragged out of the blocks and were 19
points in arrears before wing Jason Raven's try-fecta set up the miracle de
Ste. Larrue. They will have to start faster against the powerful Griffins,
who have dominated play in the mighty Northern California Union (9-1). Both
clubs, though victorious, had their hands full in battles with Back Bay and
are tied at the top of Group Eight with nine points on the table. This match
is too close to call.

Pittsburgh Harlequins at NYAC (Winged Foot)

NYAC is a heavy favorite at home after last week's 67-10 trouncing of NOVA.
Scrumhalf John McGeachy jockeyed the galloping rout with a 32-point afternoon and NYAC may be expecting a leisurely trot around the home track against bottom-of-the-bracket Pittsburgh. The Harlequins, long odds winners against NOVA, 20-10, two weeks ago, have proven they can hang down the backstretch with an overconfident opponent and will be champing at the bit to knock NYAC off its high horse.

Mystic River at White Plains

A win for Mystic River would provide no less than a tie with White Plains for
the Plate in Group One. The boys from Beantown edged White Plains, 24-22, in
October on the strength of Dan Schleifer's nineteen points and the
knife-footed flyhalf nailed four penalty goals last week against Montauk. Mystic River fell just short in its comeback bid against Montauk despite a famine of second half possession and will be hungry for the pill against White Plains. The hosts know something about comebacks too, as they snatched a tie and a win from the jaws of defeat in recent stunners against Montauk. White Plains' fullback Jason Cohen burgled an errant pass and raced 70-meters to steal victory from Montauk on April 1st and would love to see his club highjack the Plate in this season finale.

Atlanta Renegades at Cincinnati Wolfhounds

Cincinnati coasted to the Cup in Group Four with a win over Nashville in
March. The Wolfhounds must guard against complacency as a win and a bonus point would go a long way towards securing the second host's role in the Cup Championship Tournament. Atlanta, 1999 runner-up in the Plate hampionship, has struggled this season and must find some momentum going into the play-offs if it hopes to equal last year's success. Cincinnati may be a hard place to find it. The Renegades were shut out, 18-0, by the Wolfhounds in Atlanta on November 13th. The going will be tougher on the road.