We're starting to see the stronger teams make a move in Southern California, but at the same time the SCIRF top league is bunching up.

Here's what happened this week.

SCIRF

Fallbrook edged Mira Costa 17-15 in the Varsity league to improve to 2-1. Mira Costa's defensive effort was strong but Fallbrook Head Coach Sierra Arteaga wasn't overly impressed with his team's approach.

"Mira Costa they played really good defense," said Arteaga. "But we kind of struggled with our game plan."

Arteaga wanted his Fallbrook team to attack space and not get caught up in too much contact. Instead they couldn't maintain possession and Mira Costa made them play a lot of defense and went into halftime up 15-5.

"It was a similar situation in our game against St. Augustine," said Arteaga. "We need to realize this is what it takes. But in the second half we started to attack space and execute."

Two tries did the job and Fallbrook emerged winners and 2-1.

It's a three-way tie in terms of won-lost record in the SCIRF as Cathedral pulled off something of a surprise win over St. Augustine 33-10.

It was an intense and hard-hitting game under the lights at Cathedral Catholic, This rugby rivalry, which is 13 years old, pulled in a big crowd and ramped up the emotion.

After an intense initial 10 minutes which saw both teams vying for possession, field position, and pack domination, the Dons were able to score the off a pick-and-go by No. 8 Dylan Fortune. The try was converted by scrumhalf Spence Huntley. After another back-and-forth battle, center Rocco Ballisteri weaved through the Saints defense to score a second converted try to make it 14-0 with 10 minutes to go in the first half.

Despite ill discipline at the breakdown resulting in yellow cards by the Dons, they were able to put two more tires on the board, Fortune and Max Mendez doing the honors, prior to halftime. So the teams entered the break with Cathedral up 26-0 andthe Saints reeling.

But in the second half St. Augustine came out firing and took advantage of the man advantage by taking a quick tap. Chris Mullen was there to receive the pass and punched it in.

Soon after that, Isaac Morrill blocked an attempted grubber and Collin Shughrou took the ball and was over for St. Augustine's second score to make it 26-10.

Twenty minutes to go and both teams at full strength set the table for a potential Saints comeback. But instead Cathedral freshman Jon Solomon touched down and Huntley converted to seal the win 33-10.

With the result Cathedral improved to 2-1 and St. Augustine drops to 2-1. Cathedral, with three bonus points, leads with 11 standings points, St. Augustine at 10, and Fallbrook at nine. Mira Costa is 0-3 but young and showing improvement. All four play each other one more time.

Crossover Clash

In a massive clash between the top Southern California Youth Rugby school team in Torrey Pines and the top team from the open division in Carlsbad. Both teams were missing a few players and this wasn't a league game, but Torrey Pines showed some poise and tactical nous in controlling field position. Their kicking game was effective and Torrey Pines just looked a little more polished as they ran out 33-19 winners.

The Torrey pines defensive effort was massive.

SoCal 

St. Anthony defeated La Jolla 24-17 in a tight game that was in doubt until the end.

St. Anthony was down to 14 players at the end put still managed to pull it out. 

Flyhalf Manu Taula was excellent in suing the kicking game to control field position and also break La Jolla's rhythm. No. 8 and captain Rocco Burdett was a workhorse in the forwards and consistently broke the line with the ball in hand. Defensively he set the tone. 

St. Anthony were well-drilled and their power runners caused La Jolla problems. La Jolla, however, saw new player John Hartford show well in the second row, and their massive prop Dylan Butler was a handful.

Long Beach Poly slammed Cen10 64-5. LB Poly got a big game from their center pairing of Jagger Tavai and Ike Mikaele, who nailed down the defense and broke through the line on multiple occasions.

Tighthead prop Phoenix Tusa and lock and Tyson Ruffins showcased a massive work rate, while co-captain and scrumhalf Jeremy Swick, was also effective.