The Northern California Premier Varsity League is split into two halves, with the Premier on one side and the Top 5 on the other.

While conventional wisdom tells us that the Premier side is the stronger of the two, the Top 5 has some very, very capable teams. And they’ve already proven that. CK McClatchy almost beat Granite Bay and SFGG tied that same Grizzlies team. McClatchy pushed Jesuit to 48-40 while Peninsula Green scored 35 on Danville (in a loss, but still). 

Last week, Pen Green beat Los Gatos United, but it was 17-14, which just goes to show that the teams within the Top 5 are pretty close, too.

Which brings us to this weekend, with McClatchy playing Peninsula Green in a game that could go a long way to telling us who is the best among that Top 5 group.

CK started well with the results against Granite Bay and Jesuit, but they haven’t played much of late.

“The guys are a little antsy,” said Coach Inoke Waqavesi, Sr.. “It’s been a little bit frustrating for the boys but we’ll be peaking a little later in the season this time and I think that’s good.”

For Peninsula Green, last week’s close win was a bit of a frustration, too.

Coach Robert Benson said his team played strong, physical defense, and put together some good sequences on attack.

“We had some great phase runs, recycled the ball well, and then United stopped us at the five-meter line about five times,” said Benson. We played most of the game in United territory, but we did not finish.”

Alex Lopeti, Bo Mailau, DJ Monroe, and Luca Gillespie-Brown all showed well, with Mailau, and Kalifi Leeatoa scoring tries.

So it was enough, but barely.

For CK, they will be without No. 8 Ben Biutu (ankle) but will have an impressive backline with Jacob and Jonathan Forget, and Inoke Waqavesi, Jr.

Waqavesi senior said Pen Green’s bigger pack will be a challenge.

“The idea is to get quicker off the rucks and protect the ball a little more, which we didn’t do against Jesuit,” said Waqavesi. “We can’t sit on the rucks too long because we don’t have the size. So if we get quicker ball. And make the simpler tackles. If the poach isn’t there, leave it alone. We need to protect the ball and stay on the front food and progress. We just need the continuity of support.”