The Northern California DI club league started Saturday, and Olympic Club and Sacramento Capitals both emerged victorious.

O-Club faced a Sacramento Lions team that was looking seriously to upend the Bay-Area club. And it looked like it might happen. Early in the second half it was 17-15, with Olympic Club holding onto a slim, two-point lead.

“We have a pattern,” said Olympic Club Head Coach Ray Lehner. “When we played to that pattern we look pretty good. But we didn’t play to our pattern the whole time. And for a while it looked like we were playing some 15s version of 7s. We were throwing the ball around, and that just sets you up for a turnover.”

Hooker Brian McLenahan was outstanding for O-Club and lock Carl Hansen was also solid. In the backs Matt Rose was excellent, making as many as six major line breaks that ended in nothing simply because O-Club’s support running was lacking.

“It was a good win, but we’ve got a lot of work to do,” said Lehner.

Meanwhile the Capitals were impressive in a 31-24 defeat of San Mateo. Garrett Hawley and Sione Latu both scored two tries and Josh Day added one in the victory.