In monsoon-like conditions on Saturday, Granite Bay defeated Lamorinda 34-5 in a Northern California Varsity Premier clash.

The rain and wind were both very strong, and ultimately so strong the game was ended early. 

Granite Bay got on the board quick when flanker Ryan MacIntosh broke through two defenders on the right side and touched down. A short time later wing Anthony Wiley found space on the outside and sprinted 40 meters to score in the left corner.

Dan Bandoni photos.

From then on, the game turned into the Justin Oles show. Making his debut in the backline, the center shattered the Lamorinda defense repeatedly and scored three tries. Jon Rogers converted two of them of them. Lamorinda did manage to score a try after picking up a loose ball, but Granite Bay outside center Andrew Smith returned the favor in the same fashion, hydroplaning into the try zone on the rain-soaked ground.

Dan Bandoni photos.

"The conditions were horrible," said Granite Bay Coach Jason Divine. "The rain was sideways, and the ball was slicker than a salamander's tail. We didn't care, we just played through it. The game got chippy but we maintained our discipline under duress."

Coming off a good performance for the Rhino Rugby Academy in Las Vegas, Oles blossomed in the backline, where he was put in as sort of an experiment.

"It was a good idea," deadpanned Divine. Looking ahead, the coach said, "we've built some real momentum, but that game is over and now we are getting ready for Solo. It's going to be a big game on a big stage at Bonney Field in Sacramento and we are going to need to play our best rugby yet."

With Danville's defeat of Jesuit and Solo's defeat of Archbishop Riordan, the NorCal Premier remains quite tight. Solo remains undefeated, and that includes a win over Danville, but the Falcons have yet to play Jesuit or Granite Bay.