Positive COVID-19 test costs Warriors likely rugby trophy

A positive COVID-19 test ended the Fallbrook High School girls rugby club trip to Florida early and likely cost the team the championship trophy.

The Warriors won two April 2 games by a combined score of 84-0. One of the players became sick after those two games, and when her sister who was still in San Diego County tested positive for COVID-19 the team opted to cease play and return to California early.

Twelve players went to Orlando for the seven-a-side tournament. The tournament format allowed all of the players to participate in the sevens matches. "It's tough to get them in," said Fallbrook Coach John Duncan. "With twelve it's pretty tough unless there is a tournament."

Fallbrook's first April 2 game was against Rogue Ridge Academy, which is based in Michigan. The sevens matches utilize not only seven players on each team but also seven-minute halves with a three-minute halftime break. The 14 minutes of play ended as a 41-0 Fallbrook victory.

Tiahna Padilla scored two tries against Rogue Ridge Academy and also made the three successful conversion kicks. Jordan Duncan had two tries in that game with Analese Sandoval Dalton, Branna Beath, and McKenzie Jones scoring one try apiece.

The second game was against the Alaska All-Stars and was a 43-0 Fallbrook triumph. Sandoval Dalton had three tries. Duncan scored two tries. Beath and Emily Weber each had one try. Padilla kicked the four conversions.

"Nobody even scored on us," John Duncan said.

The player's illness caused suspicion of COVID-19. "She started getting a scratchy throat," Duncan said.

The April 3 games would have been for the championship but, after the sister's positive test, the team pulled out of the tournament. "We figured we better get out of here before we got stuck," Duncan said.

The team took an earlier flight home. "Had we played the second day I'm pretty confident we could have walked through every team that was there," Duncan said.

"They're playing great," Duncan said.