Thunder Rugby backed up last week's 3rd-place win in SoCal with a 2-0 performance at the Pacific Invitational this weekend.
Thunder beat a very tough SFGG side 34-32 on Day One. The Thunder forwards got their team on the board first, and SFGG responded, and that exvhange was a harbinger of how the game would go.
It was windy and both teams struggled with their kicking game as a result. In the second half SFGG stretched to a 10-point lead, exploiting some handling mistakes by Thunder.
But once Thunder started to keep the ball a bit more and work through the phases with their forwards, they made inroads on the SFGG defense.
A try under the posts made it a three-point game at SFGG 32 Thunder 29. Thunder then received the restart and through Kingston Faatili, Quinton Johnson, and then Ray Teale, they thundered through a tired SFGG defense to score the game-winner.
"Not a pretty game by Thunder or SFGG but tought, physical, well-fought match by both teams," said Thunder Head Coach Josh Williams. "I am grateful for the opportunity, the quality hosting, and the top-notch youth rugby Coach Mateo and SFGG brought to the pitch."
In another edge-of-your-seat result on Day One, the SOC Raptors edged Danville 20-19, outscoring the Oaks four tries to three, but missing all four conversions.
