Jesuit Rugby Beats Granite Bay in a Key League Battle
Saturday, March 10, 2018
Sacramento – On a dry day made for running rugby, two former National Champions and Northern California rivals faced off on the Jesuit home field. Granite Bay, one of the top club sides in the nation, came to play. For the first ten minutes Granite Bay kept the pressure on, aided by Jesuit ill discipline. A series of Jesuit penalties led to a yellow card for inside center John O’Brien. Granite Bay got close, but couldn’t cross the Jesuit line. Once Jesuit got some possession they were able to get through the phases and used a weakside break that allowed prop Joe Marchant to bust through. Fullback Mason Phillips converted to take Jesuit to a 7-0 lead just 12 minutes into the match.
Granite Bay was able to keep the attack going forward, but Jesuit refused to break. Granite Bay got a penalty to narrow the score, but Flyhalf Villi Hopoi took over. He ran hard lines and asked some serious questions of the Granite Bay defense. He was able to weave through to score 24 minutes in. Phillips again nailed the conversion. Flanker Max Sackett then burrowed over close to the line to score. Phillips hit the conversion and then hit a penalty right at the half to really put the pressure on Granite Bay.
Halftime score – Jesuit 24 – Granite Bay 3
The second half started with the same Jesuit dominance. Marchant ran a hard line after a great break to score under the posts, and then Donovan Horst showed some amazing skill to fool the Granite Bay defense to score. Phillips converted both.
Granite Bay battled and was able to get near the line. Their scrumhalf, who was a real threat all day, dummied and scored at the 60th minute mark.
Phillips ended the game with a penalty with just five minutes left.
Final Score Jesuit 41 – Granite Bay 10
“It was an easy day for the coaches when the Jesuit team was physical, smart and composed,” said Head Coach John Shorey. “The players ran the show, they called the plays and made the adjustments needed to counter Granite Bay.”