High School Girls
Both Danville and Bishop O’Dowd headed into their Northern California Girls HS bout coming off large wins, and with an eye toward being top in the Bay Conference.
Previously, Danville notched a 68-0 win over Clayton Valley, and Bishop O’Dowd took home a 52-17 victory against the Crusaders. Danville was favored, but in the end Bishop O’Dowd put up more of a fight than expected.
As five-time National champions and home to numerous 7s and 15s HS All Americans, Fallbrook could hardly think much higher, but for Fallbrook coaches Marin and Craig Pinnell, there is always a new goal.
Rugby in the winter for girls in Southern California has been about 7s, as teams that struggle for numbers are able to play.
The tournaments have mostly been about getting experience - no tournament winners - but this weekend it all culminates in an end-of-season event that will show us who is strongest.
The two day 32nd Annual Rugby Kickoff Tournament will be ground zero for the girls’ teams and its coaches on January 30 and 31. Although teams won’t be playing for a cup, the coaches find the tournament just as valuable to build team skills.
The 2016 NIT Club committee has announced that the inaugural Girls High School Club Rugby National Championship (hsgirlsrugbynationals.club) will be held at Central Washington University (CWU) in Ellensburg, Wash. May 21-22.