Compiled by Steve Breazeale
It looked like the Dana Rugby Club might cap off a perfect regular season in the Southern California Youth Rugby league on Jan. 16. Staring down second-place St. John Bosco in the final regular season match of the year, Dana Rugby Club held a slim one-point lead in the second half. But that 22-21 lead would not hold up, as the Braves rallied late to pull away with a 26-25 victory.
It was the only time the Dana Rugby Club lost a match this year.
The Braves got out to an early 14-0 lead and Dana Rugby was able to bring it to 14-10 at halftime. In the second half, Dana Rugby earned their first lead of the game at 22-21, but St. John Bosco was able to come back and seal the win.
The Dana Rugby Club finished the season with a 5-1 overall record and, despite the loss, earned the No. 1 seed in the upcoming Southern California Youth Rugby white division playoffs. In just their second year as a club, the team outscored their opponents by a combined 216-91 margin over six games.
The local team, which draws players from Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano, San Clemente and neighboring cities, will host their first playoff game on Jan. 31 at Vista Hermosa Sports Park in San Clemente. Their opponent is TBA. If Dana Rugby advances, they will play in the Los Angeles division semifinals on Feb. 7.
