The Danville Oaks and Granite Bay Grizzlies faced off Saturday in a meeting of the top two HS club teams in Northern California last season.

Granite Bay was coming off a tight loss to Jesuit, while Danville had already lost to the Solo Falcons, so both teams had something to prove.

It was a close game all the way, played at a furious tempo.

Danville scores two early tries, with Carlos Gomez racing down the sidelines for one and Keanu Andrade, back to full strength after injury, scoring also.

Dan Bandoni photos.

But Granite Bay rallied, putting Danville under pressure and sending scrumhalf Jon Rogers in off a quick tap. Danville kicked a penalty, and Rogers sneaked in for another try for the Grizzlies, and that’s how the game would go. Back and forth the teams traded scores. Desi Streater ended the first half with a penalty for Granite Bay.

But early in the second half Andrade scored again. Granite Bay answered immediately off the restart, as the ball bounced off a Danville player and flanker Justin Oles raced in, caught the ball, and was gone. 

Reserve prop Isaia Toatua put Danville up 31-20 with time winding down, but again Granite Bay answered - this time Ryan Macintosh, who is also an all-league linebacker in football, powering through. Streater’s conversion was good, but Granite Bay’s final attempt to get the lead would end in a turnover. Danville prevailed 31-27.

Dan Bandoni photos.

“It was a game that required bravery and our defense was fearless and strong in contact,” said Granite Bay Coach Jason Divine. “There was some high quality rugby on display - both teams had a lot of NorCal all-star players on the field. We played well but made some mistakes and you can't do that and expect to win at this level.”

Danville program director Jon Straka said his team made some mistakes, too - and being slow to react to Rogers’ running was one of them.

Dan Bandoni photos.

“They did a really good job of slowing down our ball and making it tough to run the offense,” said Straka. “We wanted to go out wide on them and test them, but it was tough. Granite Bay is a really good team and we were lucky to win the game.”

Oles was a standout for Granite Bay with his excellent work rate, and Rogers was instrumental, while the Grizzlies centers Andrew Turner and Sam Cusano played well.

Dan Bandoni photos.

Danville got a solid team effort but Andrade added something a little extra and Kevin Saunders did well to set up scoring opportunities.

Meanwhile, Jesuit won big, 62-0 over Lamorinda. Christian Dyer had a huge day for the Maurauders. Solo played a non-conference game against SFGG, and won 33-17. Solo led 28-12 at halftime but the game degenerated somewhat in terms of discipline in the second half. Centers D'Lorren McMullen and Bryce Nakamura, wings Lucas Salts and Angel Figueroa, and flanker Xavier Wabaunsee all scored for the Falcons, while flyhalf Cameron Garlick slotted four conversions.

With the Riordan v Mother Lode score not in yet, the NorCal Premier conference looks like this:

Dan Bandoni photos.