GRR: NorCal
The 7th Annual NorCal Girls Rugby Kick-Off Festival was just as much of a success as NorCal Girls Rugby Chairman Karen Chance had hoped for. The same four teams that competed in the first middle school girls’ league will also be playing in the 32nd annual Kickoff Tournament.
Despite the frustrating lead-up to the Southwest Regional Cup Tournament (read more), Southern California hosted a top-notch girls all-star competition that brought together arguably the two best high school select sides in the country.
After a couple years of coming close, Danville has its first Northern California girls high school title. But it wasn’t easy. Sacramento, despite its ups and downs this season, was ready to defend its territory, but ultimately the Lady Oaks, in their third year of existence, prevailed 41-38.
In girls high school rugby, Northern California is considered Amazon territory. The January Kickoff Tournament seemed to reiterate that fact, and league contenders – namely Danville and Pleasanton – played sobering games against the Sacramento side. But Saturday showed that the league title is far from decided, as Pleasanton carved out a piece of NorCal land for itself.
Although Sacramento is the girls high school team to beat in Northern California, Danville is the team to produce an upset. The Bay Area side finished second at last weekend’s Kickoff Tournament and the pre-season bout against the Amazons highlighted a brilliant rivalry that will hopefully bloom for years.