#1 Ranked Danville Club Side Beats Jesuit In Thrilling Nor Cal Premier Rugby Final
Saturday, May 5, 2018 - Stockton Soccer Complex

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The Jesuit Marauders were looking for revenge in the Nor Cal Premier Rugby Final against the Danville Oaks after an earlier league defeat, but Danville had other ideas.  Both teams showed massive improvement over the past two months and the game was filled with big hits and running rugby.

Danville got on the board first and punished Jesuit for playing too much rugby within their own 22.  A missed tackle led to a long break and Danville was in under the posts to take 7-0 lead.

The next 20 minutes was back and forth with both teams playing long stretches of defense.  The pressure was great and it showed with both teams making errors. 

Flanker Max Sackett was finally able to cross the line for Jesuit, but the conversion was missed.

Halftime score Danville 7 – Jesuit 5

It took Jesuit just 25 seconds into the second half to unlock the Danville defense. A quick win off the kick off and an attack down the weak side saw Laiatu Latu dot down in the corner.  Fullback Mason Phillips slotted the kick from the corner to allow Jesuit to take the lead.

It was short lived with Danville tying the score just five minutes later.  Mason Phillips then raced away to score and converted his own try to put Jesuit back on top.  Danville were able to get the ball wide and outpaced Jesuit to score. This made it a two-point game. 

Prop Joe Marchant then went to work and was able to bash over the line after a series of runs of a tapped penalty. 

That score gave the Marauders a 7-point advantage with just ten minutes on the clock.  Danville came right back on attack. They gained a penalty off a dangerous tackle and score to cut the deficit to 4. In the process Jesuit lost a player to a yellow card.  With the man advantage, the Oaks went on attack.  They were able to get a few long runs and the Jesuit scrambling defense was able to hold the line several times. One final surge saw Jesuit with too many men committed to the ruck and simple pass allowed Danville to score right at the final whistle.

Final Score Danville 25 – Jesuit 24

“It was a good day for Northern California rugby and classic final with two skilled teams playing intelligent rugby,” said Head Coach John Shorey. “We can see why Danville are the Top Club Team in the nation and I’m pretty sure that they will make a mark on the Club Bracket at the High School Rugby Nationals.”

Laitu Latu and Max Schumacher were named players of the game.