Top NorCal Clubs Convene in Sacramento

Only a handful of NorCal girls’ high school teams have been able to play this spring, and all of the games have been friendlies. In early June, however, four of the stronger programs assembled in Sacramento, Calif., for a small festival. The Land Park Rugby Pitch saw hometown Harlequins and local SacPAL Amazons play Lamorinda and the combination Pleasanton / Danville team from the Bay Area.

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Land Park and Lamorinda started with the day’s only 15s game, and the home side scored three tries before the visitors responded. No. 8 Tohuia Kaihau, a rising junior, dotted down the opener and was equally influential on defense, setting the tone for tough tackling and work ethic. Center Jordan Lindsay also impressed with her defense, especially in the open field. The rising senior has excellent speed and is evasive – attributes that continue to develop as a soccer standout. Jorgie Miller was ever-present as well, and the graduating senior applied her power and rugby IQ to the breakdown. 

Lamorinda had to play catch-up as some players showed up after kickoff – but catch-up they did. Halfbacks Yana Manoa and Neti Tuavao were the playmakers in the middle, and they knew when to run, kick or pass the ball on attack. They deployed powerful ballcarriers in No. 8 Niva Tuavao, who scored a couple of tries; fullback Ofa Fetokai, who injected great pace into the line; and rising sophomore Liz Figueroa, a prop who wasn’t afraid to join the outside attack deep into phase play. Tina Alatini was good for the chase-downs and hustled to clean up line breaks.

Lamorinda scored right before the break to get on the board, but then Land Park scrumhalf Maya Hilger restored the point differential off an attacking scrum, 24-5. Lamo then surged and a waterfall of points followed. Manoa and Niva Tuavao scored two tries apiece, and Fetokai added a fifth second-half try for the massive come-from-behind win.

It was a thrilling start to the day and that energy fed the subsequent 7s games. The Amazons, which have enjoyed great numbers this spring, fielded a mostly U16 side against Pleasanton/Danville and won 20-19. The local side has 25 high schoolers (HSG) and 14 middle schoolers (MSG) active.

“We are lucky to have parents and family that are willing to volunteer, putting our program in a position to run a successful MSG feeder program,” SacPal coaches Wayne Koi and Siope Tausinga wrote in an e-mail. “The investment has proven victorious. Both HSG and MSG are learning the same style of play moving in one sequence. Our HSG learned from our veterans and they are continuing to pass the torch.”

The coaches pointed to players like Afeiau’upu Mann, Louina Hafoka, Hualani Trejo, Longosai Tausinga, Elenoa Lagilagi, Eseta Pale, Veisina Brown and Masalina Koi, among others, who have benefitted from their middle school upbringing. And it showed on the pitch. Lagilagi scored the first try of the match and showed her prowess on defense, chasing down line-breaks with smothering hits. Trejo followed suit, cleaning up a bad pass and fending the opposition along the sideline for a long try, 10-0.

The Cavaliers/Oaks then answered with back-to-back tries, and Emma Chang’s conversion gave the visitors a 12-10 edge. Aside from her boot, the senior flyhalf played a major role in the Pleasanton/Danville attack, leaning on good speed and excellent rugby IQ to keep SacPAL on the move. The Amazons were prepared, however, and applied fast-up defense to limit Chang’s time with ball in hand.

SacPAL kept hustling and got great defense out of rising senior Tausinga, the younger sister to Salote, who is a current resident at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center. Tausinga has good size to her and is deceptively fast. She tracked down one breakaway and prevented a try with the pursuit tackle.

The visitors scored one more try but SacPAL was able to answer with two unconverted scores for the 20-19 win.

Sevens continued throughout the day but the young Amazons who have been playing together since the U10 and U12 levels — Tausinga, Koi, Lagilagi, Pale, Brown — were a highlight. Their connectivity and confidence united an explosive game, which will be on display for a larger audience at NAI 7s in July. SacPAL is bringing U14, U16 and U18 teams to Salt Lake City.

“We came in to the HSG program with a standard to uphold,” the coaches closed. “Our past coaches — Fesi Green, David Tausinga and Etueni Samate — definitely set the bar.”

Rugby NorCal didn’t organize games for teams during the spring but is bringing some structure to the summer 7s season. There are 7s tournaments planned for June 19 in Sacramento and June 26 on Treasure Island. SacPAL and Pleasanton/Danville are heading to Salt Lake City, and the Rhino Rugby Academy will also feature players from NorCal.

For more photos, visit @therugbybreakdown on Instagram.