GRR: NorCal
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.
Early indications suggest that the Sacramento Amazons are the team to beat, again, in Northern California. The #2 girls’ high school in the nation might seem like an easy pick, but teams like Pleasanton and Danville have banked recent wins against them. But on Saturday’s Kickoff Tournament in Dixon, Calif., no one came close to the Amazons, who exited the day with an unblemished record.