GRR: Carlsbad
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.
Southern California started its league season after a long delay and Thunder, Belmont Shore, and the SOC Raptors all came away victorious, two coming back to do so.
The Woodlands cruised through much of a very active weekend, but ran into a bit of a brick wall on Sunday.