The Mira Costa Rugby team had another long road trip; this time Fallbrook, CA. The Warriors have a long and rich rugby tradition. However, the Mustangs, playing with only 1 reserve used their skills to run the Warriors off the pitch.
The match opened w/ a couple of miscues by the Fallbrook side but Costa failed to capitalize. It wasn’t until 10 minutes into the match when Number 8 Austin Tiradeau scored from 7 meters out off a forward drive. Captain Evan Anderson added the conversion. 4 minutes later the Mustangs scored a beautiful try as Inside Center Reed Vabrey took the ball from 62 meters out at full pace, then hit Prop Tomy Undurraga who immediately offloaded to A. Tiradeau who then hit Outside Center Slade Gordon who sprinted the final 42 meters for the Try. Anderson converted. 5 minutes later Anderson (the Man of the Match) dummied his opposition & blew 43 meters for the Try and his own conversion. At the 25 minute mark it was the Mustangs rapidly developing Lock Drew Brumley who found pay dirt from 8 meters out. Anderson converted. Brumley has become an excellent jumper on the Costa lineouts. However, a few minutes before half the Warriors took advantage of 4 consecutive offside penalties to get on the board for a 28-5 halftime score.
The second half was more of the same as Costa offense continued to pressure the Warriors. Undurraga opened the 2nd half with a smart 8 meter drive. The conversion failed. Costa kept pressing the issue as they consistently played in the opposition’s end of the pitch. Forward Captain and Hooker Luke Mohr found the Try Zone off another successful Forward drive. Anderson converted a penalty kick to drive the score to 43-12 after a Warrior score. The icing on the cake came on the final play of the match as Anderson took a penalty on the 6 meter line & kicked the ball across & backwards into the waiting arms of Underagga as he dove in for the final score…50-12. Much of the Mustangs success was a result of Anderson’s foot as he was able to consistently put the Warriors in a hole with his kicking.