SoCal School League Multi=School Playoffs Tonight
SoCal School League Multi=School Playoffs Tonight
Southern California's multi-school championship here in its school season finishes up Saturday with the league final.
Friday night is the semifinals, with Oceanside vs Rancho Cucamonga and San Clemente vs Murietta.
San Clemente won this competition last year and Head Coach Stuart Proctor says his team is expecting to repeat.
"I feel we’re peaking at just the right time," Prctor told GRR, pointing to his team's impressive 69-19 win over Rancho last week. Scrumhalf Beniah Jones jas been outstanding and the play-anywherw Caden Hartley continue to cause opponents problems. Loosehead prop Cade Gilbert is powerful up front.
"We have talent throughout the squad and a good winning mentality within the group going into this weekend," said Proctor.
San Clemente goes into this weekend without loose forward Ray Guerra, who worked his way up through the ranks and was slated to be part of the Varsity side for the playoffs. But before that he helped the San Clemente JV side win their competition last week and unfortunately suffered an ankle injury that will sideline him.
"Ray is a first-year rugby player this year and has done spectacularly well," said Proctor. He is a starting fixture in our JV 3rd row and had also earned a place in the Varsity squad before being injured. He is quiet, attentive, respectful and as such has learned the game very quickly. Ray will be front of mind in our thoughts this weekend as we defend our Championship. "
Oceanside, meanwhile, won two over last weekend to set them up to challenge for a title. Head Coach Mike Maeva has his team peaking at the right time, too, getting them the #1 seed.
The two-game weekend was a weekend where Oceanside expected to go 2-0 and they did, but it was also hugely valuable.
"We were able to wrap up the top seed, try some players at new positions, and get all our JV players some playing time against Varsity teams," said Oceanside coach Josh Williams. We are grateful to the Coronado HS program run by Santos Trujillo for coming up to Oceanside, and the San Marcos players for playing tough for 70-plus minutes."
Oceanside's front row of Kinston Faatili, Zavier Leathermen, and captain Thomas Reynoso carry the ball well and "we have challenged them to lift their defensive prowess to match their attacking contributions," said Williams. "They really did this week,."
Center Exodus Taele and scrumhalf Deacon Maeva have been crucial parts of Oceanside's success. Both are.young but able set things up for wing Kymani Nua. Back playing rugby after a break, he isn't just a runner. Strong in the air, a good kicker, and a good open-field tackler ,Nua "consistently wins his one on one battles, all the things we want from our wings," said Williams.
GRR will be at the semis Friday night.
