Mira Costa made a big move in the Southern California Varsity Red LA Division with a 46-20 defeat of 1-1 View Park Prep.

The game was played on a chilly night Friday night, and while both teams like to play an open style of rugby, View Park's home field is a football field, and it's narrow, which helped neither team. Both teams used their forwards to bash through the other's defense. Mira Costa took an early lead when captain and scrumhalf Harrison Dulgarian alert­ly used a quick lineout to No. 8 Jonah Tavai, who then offloaded to outside center Cade Christian­sen, who linked with wing Evanson Franck-Love, and he raced down the sideline for the try.

A few minutes later, Lock Alec Oshita picked off a pass and raced 38 meters. He was hauled down near the tryline, and lost the ball, but hooker Callum Lapper picked up the loose ball and scored to put the Mustangs up 10-0. Following the restart, Costa was again on the attack as Tavai drove the ball down to within two meters of the tryline. Dulgarian then picked the ball from the ruck and dove in for the score.

View Park rebounded, though, and scored with eight minutes to go in the first half. Mira Costa replied when a counter-ruck by Franck-Love allowed Dulgarian to set up Tavai. View Park scored on a brilliant long run, and the first half ended 20-10 for Mira Costa.

Mira Costa started moving the ball smoothly, with forwards and backs getting into the act. Inside center Jordan Fischer took a pass from flyhalf Kaden Loversky from 14 meters out, and at pace, and scored. Next, wing Kevin Russell also took a pass at full pace and scored from 22 meters out. Flanker Gunnar Kiss­man and Tavai each added tries and the game ended 46-20.

Mira Costa is now 4-0 on the season, and 2-0 in the Varsity Red LA Division. View Park drops to 1-2.