Fallbrook Girls Rugby wins state cup

FALLBROOK – The Fallbrook U19 Girls Rugby team went to San Francisco on May 15 and won the inaugural California State Cup 13-10 with a brave display of courage against a very big and physical Sacramento Amazons side.

The girls started off in defensive mode putting their bodies on the line and making a large number of tackles. Two tries were scored against them before Fallbrook got some long awaited for possession and attacked up field, resulting in a penalty being awarded. Lauren Bell (U19 SoCal Griffins Girls) took the kick at goal to make it 3-10 at half time.

The second half was a thrilling affair with Fallbrook’s forwards standing up to the much bigger opposition and securing the ball for the backline to attack. Under pressure, the Amazons gave away numerous penalties leading to two players being sin binned (sent to the penalty box) and Fallbrook’s center pairing of Tara Burke (USA U18) and Nicole Bell (U19 SoCal Griffin Girls) capitalized by scoring a try each to finish the game, 13-10, in a come-from-behind win.

Fallbrook came into the game as Southern California champions, undefeated with 573 points for and 30 points against, while the Amazons were the Northern California and Pacific Coast champions undefeated with 804 points for and 13 against.

These girls played with huge heart and determination to become the best-in-the-west! “We are immensely proud of their achievement and the character it took to win this game,” said the coaches and parents.

The team includes twelfth graders Victoria Gonzalez, Katie Speck, Ellyn Grantham, Ally Maxwell, Lauren Bell, Sammy Pinson, Summer Karl, Jamie Garcia, Angie Gonzalez, Nicole Mojarro, Mia Gonzalez; eleventh graders Lery Palma, Evelyn Macedo, Tara Burke, Delaney Cassidy, Lizeth Rodriguez, Liana Young, Leila Broyles; tenth graders Lizeth Palma, Nicole Bell, Hailey Ayres, Bere Ruvalcaba, Fabiola Gutierrez; ninth graders Megan Pinson, and Karmin Macedo.

This last weekend the girls took on the top teams in the nation in Sandy, Utah in the USA Rugby U19 Girls National Championships. Fallbrook battled the Sacramento Amazons in the finals once again, this time for the national title, but couldn’t keep up with the bigger and stronger team. Putting forth a valiant effort, Fallbrook lost 10 to 32, placing second.