GRR: Thunder Rugby SoCal
Which Campbell had the better June?
Bryce Campbell was named USA Men's 15s captain, but his brother, Jacob, helped coach Thunder Rugby to a Boys HS Club National Championship. Both played their HS rugby at Royal Irish (one of the teams Thunder beat on the way to the title), and we decided to ask the two who had the better month.
Bryce started laughing at the question.
Thunder Rugby defeated the favored Charlotte Tigers 13-8 in a tense, defensive battle that owed much of its appeal to the drama of the moment.
Thunder’s defense was once again massive. Through the three games of the Boys HS National Championships, Thunder gave up only three tries.
In typical dramatic fashion the Southern California Youth Rugby HS championships was decided by a razor-thin margin, as Thunder Rugby edged the SOC Raptors 14-12 Saturday.
This was the third time these teams had played. In March in a preseason clash Thunder had won 12-7, while in their league game May 14 the Raptors had emerged victorious 24-21. This time, it was even closer.
In a result that could well shake up the HS club rankings, or at least give rankings and Nationals seeders some pause, the South OC Raptors defeated previously unbeaten Thunder Rugby 24-21 in Southern California league play.
Thunder, which had been pushed by the Raptors earlier in the season, led 21-17 only to see SOC score late to win it.
Thunder Rugby keeps on winning.
After a preseason that saw them beat La Jolla twice and the SOC Raptors and Belmont Shore twice, Thunder opened up their Southern California league season with wins over the San Diego Mustangs and the combined Aztecs/OMBAC squad 59-5.