Torrey Pines won a fierce clash with their main SoCal Single-School rivals San Clemente over the weekend.
San Clemente led early as they answered a Jonty Lee try for Torrey Pines with two unconverted scores, punish Torrey penalties.
Torrey Pines tied the game with a penalty just at the stroke of halftime, and then started to build a lead.
Torrey Pines had wind advantage in the second half and Lee took the battle to the air. Despite having trouble with their normally dependable lineout, Pines scored off that platform to take the lead—hooker Kai Caulfield peeled off the back of an attacking maul to score and make it 17-10.
After that Torrey Pines No. 8 Jacob Jaffe spotted a gap when a penalty was called, tapped, and powered over.
That made it 24-10. San Clemente scored on movement set up by a long break, only for Lee to scamper around the weak side to cap it off 29-15.
“San Clemente is always a physical test that’s hard to fully prepare for,” said Torrey Pines Coach Matty Sandoval. “They never back down, and require grit and composure for a full 70 minutes. Not our prettiest effort, but pleased with a win on the road.”
