The Mustangs travelled to Torrey Pines HS (San Diego) to take on the Falcons in the final match of the SCRIF season. Unfortunately, the outcome was more of the same for the Costa Ruggers as their lack of size and depth once again proved to be their undoing.
It was a beautiful day for rugby with the sun shining, a light breeze and 57 degrees. The Falcons kicked to the Mustangs and for the first five minutes the two sides traded possessions. However, it was clearly evident that the Mustangs were going to have some trouble dealing with the size of the TP Ruggers. Five minutes into the match the Falcons had managed to move the ball inside the 10 meter line. That was the kiss of death for Costa as they had no answer for the TP Forward drives. Despite putting up a valiant and spirited defense the Falcons just hammered the ball into the Try Zone.
Following the restart the Mustangs again started to move the ball down the pitch where they unfortunately turned the ball over to the Falcons inside the Torrey Pines 30 meter line. However, Fly-half Aiden Martinez perfectly timed a Falcon pass and collected the ball in mid flight and took it back for a Mustang Try. Prop Tomy Undurraga hammered through the conversion for a 7-7 tie. After the kickoff the Falcons were again using their size to drive the ball into the Mustang’s half. Torrey Pines managed two more Trys before half for a 7-21 halftime lead. Nevertheless that would be as close as the Costa boys got. Despite being in great physical shape the Mustangs had no answer for the size of the Falcons.
The final was 7-47. The loss dropped the Mustangs to 1-6 for the SCRIF season and a 7th place finish in the 8 team league. To add insult to injury the Mustangs graduate 14 seniors (many of whom are Forwards) and with only 26 in the program this year the Mustangs have a great deal of rebuilding to do. In the meantime, the Costa boys will next travel to Redondo tonight to scrimmage Redondo, then to Las Vegas for the International 7s, then travel to Wales to play 3 matches and finally finish at home vs. New South Wales from Australia in late April.
This year’s edition of Mustang Rugby may have not had the outcome that all had hoped for but these boys fought all year long and went toe to toe against the best high rugby teams in southern California. They not once quit on themselves or their teammates.