In a preseason clash between two teams from different divisions, Granite Bay held off the Pleasanton Cavaliers 17-14 this past weekend.

Granite Bay is GRR #4 HS club and finished 2nd in Northern California's club division in 2015 (the region has since realigned). So losing by three for Pleasanton was not a bad result at all.

Granite Bay ran out to a 12-0 lead in the first half, but Pleasanton scored twice either side of halftime to take a 14-12 lead. Granite Bay won it with a Sam Cusano try late. Anthony Wiley also got in on the scoring for Granite Bay, which punished a couple of Pleasanton turnovers. On defense Jake Van Order was a powerhouse for GB.

"Pleasanton played a good game," said Granite Bay Coach Jason Divine. "They are well structured and tough. We got a lot of work-ons, and that's a good thing right now."

Pleasanton Coach John Comiskey, who works with Divine on select sides, was pleased despite the fact this was his team's first loss in six preseason games.

"It was a fantastic game," said Comiskey. "Granite Bay is a top-shelf organization. JD and I were on the Rugby NorCal All-Star Staff last year and really hit it off in terms of style of rugby, creating a positive rugby culture and as people. We set this game up in the Fall to help our respective clubs benchmark for the season.  The game was competitive and clean with both teams playing monster defense and seizing offensive opportunities as they presented themselves. Our primary take away is that when we execute our game plan we are successful. The hallmark of Cavaliers Rugby is teamwork and when we work as a team we can compete at the top level of High School Rugby."

Granite Bay and Pleasanton are in two different divisions, but that doesn't mean they're expected to be better or worse than the other. Granite Bay is in the Premier Varsity Division, which is expected to be highly competitive because it includes them, Jesuit, and Danville. But that division was created as much for programs that can field three sides each weekend. Pleasanton is in NorCal's Division 1, which has some very strong teams involved, but teams that don't have as much depth.

 "The players have gained a level of confidence that can only come with running with the great teams," said Comiskey, "and this will be critical for us to compete at the Division 1 level in Rugby NorCal."