Lamorinda Rugby, lead by head coach Matt Taylor, won the state championship on May 19th.
The rugby team went a perfect 15-0 in the route to the state championship, defeating teams from all over the state. The playoffs were smooth sailing for the club until they reached the Northern California finals. Lamorinda won a nail biting game against the Sacramento Islanders 29-26 to seal their state bid.
Senior Jack Simmons said, “We prepared for the state game with a few intense practices just trying to focus on what the other team had going for them, which was size.”
Lamorinda played Jesuit High School from Sacramento in the championship game. Lamorinda took a commanding 15-0 lead after the first half and later made it 22-0. Jesuit made a comeback but it was not enough to overcome the initial lead that Lamorinda had made, allowing Lamorinda to win the game 27-17.
Simmons said, “Surprisingly the state game wasn’t our toughest game. The Northern California Championship was the hardest considering the size and speed disadvantage we had.”
Senior Sam Peri explained, “Northern California Rugby is the best in the country so the Northern California game was definitely harder than the state game.”
Peri won Man of the Match. Peri said, “I put everything I can on the field and never stop working.” Peri intends to play rugby next year at the University of Arizona.
Emotions ran high after the State Championship win. Simmons said, “Our feelings after the game were bittersweet. We had just become state champions but at the same time we would never play together again.” He added, “We were a really close group so it was tough, but we made our goal come true and that was to be the best Lamorinda team ever.”
Peri said, “I was super tired but also both pumped for the win but sad the season was over.”
