In an absolute classic De La Salle edged by Granite Bay to win the Northern California Premier final.
Ranked #2 among school teams, De La Salle beat the #1-ranked HS club 24-22, scoring in the final moments to secure the regional championships. This adds to De La Salle's all-California school title that they won over Torrey Pines in March.
Both teams knew they had to produce their best rugby for this game. They had not met each other but had played the same opponents, with their record and scores eerily similar.
The game started with De La Salle receiving the opening kickoff and struggling to get through the Granite Bay defense to get out of their own end.
It took more than 10 minutes for the Spartans to really get going. Finally they found some space and flyhalf Michael Freeman shot through, fended off the a defense, and was in. The conversion was good and score was 7-0.
Granite Bay took advantage of a knock on after the restart and after some hard runs got a penalty shot right in front of the posts, which they took to make it 7-3. Neither team could really break free as both sides played tenacious defense. Finally with time running out in the first half Granite Bay took a quick-tap off a penalty and scrumhalf Avion Ganse-Lira raced on for 50 meters before he was dragged down. The Grizzly forwards consolidated nicely and blasted it over to make it 8-7 at halftime.
Both teams needed to make adjustments at halftime and coming into the second half De La Salle looked solid in the set piece, which created a better platform for their backline. Despite some big breaks the Spartans could not get closer to the tryline. Freeman did slot a penalty to put his side ahead 10-8.
Granite Bay struck back with several phases and found space around the edge to score and, with the conversion led 15-10. JJ Tofaeono had a huge day for De La Salle at outside center and he made a big play here, breaking off a 40-meter run off the back of a scrum and he was in under the posts.
The conversion put De La Salle up 17-15.
