Claremont Colleges is back as a major contender for the NSCRO national title after logging two impressive victories in the last two weekends.

Led by a massive ame from junior flanker Sam Ness, Claremont defeated Arizona State 51-26. With senior flanker Connor Lehner playing excellent defense and junior wing Michael Madsen making his rugby debut and scoring, Claremont Colleges looked every bit the potential Gold Coast Conference winner.

And this past weekend, Claremont slammed Southern California 94-10.

The Gold Coast Conference is a hybrid conference, with DIAA and NSCRO teams in contention. The top from each division go on to their respective national playoffs. But the conference title is just for one team. Claremont and Cal State Long Beach look to be on a collision course again.

And spare a thought for fullback Matt Grundlingh. His tactical kicking and kicking out of hand under pressure has been very good, but from the tee he has been perfect. Over the last two weeks he has kicked 19 conversions and four penalty goals, and hasn't missed a single kick. Several of those kicks have been from difficult angles, but he has still popped them over.

Claremont Colleges takes on CSULB this coming weekend.