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Mira Cosa Impresses v Welsh Tourists

irish rugby tours

Mira Cosa Impresses v Welsh Tourists

The 2016 Mira Costa Rugby team finally completed a very long and extremely successful season last night at home vs. Ysgol Bro Gwaun High School from Fishguard, Wales.

It was an exciting clash between the two teams that knew nothing of each other, until this weekend's game.

Following the national anthems of both Wales and the United States and the traditional pre-match handshakes the Mustangs kicked off to start the match  Mira Costa backs captain Justus Tavai, playing in his final match as a Mustang, made a beautiful kick which allowed captain and HS All American Justin Johnson time to race 10 meters, out-jump the Welshmen and secure the ball.  Johnson then bulled his way another 12 meters where he made a fantastic offload to No. 8 Jonah Tavai, who in turn made a spectacular pass to flanker Gunnar Kissman for the try. Wing Kaden Loversky added the conversion to make it 7-0 just eight seconds into the match.

The boys from Wales found their footing and started to play some very efficient and smart rugby as they used their superior rucking skills to maintain possession of the ball. They were able to move the ball deep into the Costa half only to turn it over 17 meters from the Mira Costa tryline. The Mustangs then again went on the attack, using their usual open style of play using speed and finesse to take advantage of the slower Welshmen. The ball finally found its way into the hands of hooker Callum Lapper as he darted in for another Mustang try.  Scrumhalf Harrison Dulgarian converted the kick giving the Mira Costa boys a 14-0 lead.

After the two sides traded possessions the Costa boys found themselves driving into Welsh territory.  Following a couple of phases the Mustang forwards did a crash ball into the Wales side.  Dulgarian managed to dig the ball out of a ruck and found Inside Center Justus Tavai as he caught the ball on pace, blew through the Welsh defensive line and scored from 44 meters out.  The conversion failed.

Following the second half kickoff the Mustangs scored again to make it 26-0.  It was evident immediately after the opening kickoff that the boys from Wales were overmatched. The two teams then divided themselves in two and exchanged sides so that each side was made of half of the other team.  The boys then played another 15 minutes in what was a lot of fun rugby as American and Welshman played together.

The after-match party was extremely special as the Costa parents treated everyone to a fantastic dinner.  2016-17 Captain Harrison Dulgarian presented the Man of the Match award to the Wales team, the coaches exchanged gifts, each Ysgol Bro Gwaun player received a gift from their Mira Costa brothers in rugby and both sides spent time visiting with each other chatting and swapping jerseys and T-shirts.