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Santa Monica Wins Fullerton Tournament

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Santa Monica Wins Fullerton Tournament

The Santa Monica Dolphins won the Fullerton Invitational Sunday, capping the two-day tournament with an 18-0 defeat of CK McClatchy out of Northern California.

On Day One, Santa Monica won their bracket by defeating San Diego Aztecs 33-14, Belmont Shore 19-0, and Prince of Wales School 26-5. 

That set up the semis for Day Two, with McClatchy facing Belmont Shore and Santa Monica facing Empire Rugby.

Santa Monica scored within a couple of minutes of the kickoff, trapping Empire in their own 22, stealing the ball, and seeing Oscar Ockomichalak pick-and-go over the line. Tries from Santa Monica’s Dylan James and Chase Capiti, and three conversions and two penalty goals from John Conor Shalloe saw the Dolphins win comfortably 27-0.  

In the final Santa Monica lined up against CK McClatchy, and in the final it was, once again, a shutout. Santa Monica’s backline attack was smooth, but the forwards did nicely, too, setting up the field points with a maul. McClatchy pulled the maul down illegally and Shalloe kicked the penalty. Minutes later a superb individual run from center Quinn Perry saw the Dolphins score again, and with the conversion it was 10-0.

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Just before the break the Dolphins stuck again - McClatchy was offside and Salloe slotted home another three points.

After halftime McClatchy came close with some good, hard running, but the Dolphins defense held. A breakout run from Santa Monica wing Ryan Suggs stretched the McClatchy defense, and then Suggs offloaded to Jeremy Ockomichalak, and the powerful, 230-lb prop ran 15 meters, fending off two defenders on the way, to score.

It was a hugely impressive weekend for Santa Monica, as in the five games the Dolphins allowed just three tries.

Santa Monica team photo