The #19-ranked HS club Danville beat #12 school team Jesuit in Sacramento Saturday, with the Oaks taking down the Marauders 22-12.

While Jesuit battled in this game and worked hard to keep it close, Danville, behind a hard-nosed forward effort, looked the more impressive team and was certainly the (slightly) more game-hardened.

"It's still week two of not playing for a year," said Danville Head Coach Chris O'Brien. "We moved the ball a little better than last week; it was just a little step up from last week."

Sophomore wing Nate Comiskey emerged as a capable finisher and dynamic attacking player. Up front No. 8 Danny Bray led the forward effort in a game that sees Danville now 2-0 in league play.

"I still feel like we’re in the unknown," said O'Brien. "If we can make a little improvement each week, that's good; that's all we’re looking for. The kids picked it up a little this week."

But one team to watch out for is Menlo-Atherton. After losing their opening game 44-5 two weeks ago, Menlo beat Lamorinda 33-22 a week ago and then a very good Elsie Allen team 55-5.

Like a lot of teams in areas where football season was delayed, Menlo-Atherton had to wait for some football players to come back to rugby, and also for some players to manage injuries sustained but not having much down time. (This has been a problem for Jesuit for sure.) In addition, in the opener against SFGG, Menlo-Atherton had to sit some players because a football teammate had tested positive for COVID and they were waiting out their quarantine.

"We've got a few players just starting back after football and that's giving us some depth for the rest of the season," said Menlo-Atherton Head Coach Shaun Paga. 

So going forward it will be a different Menlo-Atherton team than the one SFGG beat. They are big, powerful, and imposing.