It was a heavy week of rain in Northern California with the sky breaking just long enough today for rugby, even if it was somewhat damp rugby.

After the day was done, the Sacramento Lions and the East Palo Alto Bulldogs would remain unbeaten in DI club league play,  setting up the two teams quite nicely for a showdown March 31.

Perhaps the biggest game this weekend was Olympic Club against the Sacramento Lions. This was a repeat of last year’s national quarterfinals, which ended with an O-Club victory.

This time, in dramatic fashion, the Lions won.

The first half was as expected - hard hitting with both teams looking for field position and space to attack.  About eighty percent of the half was spent with Olympic Club attacking the Lions in their territory, but the Lions defense held.

New rugby recruit Kivalu Toofohe showed well in defense along with veteran teammates Michael Fotofili, Wayne Koi, and Spencer Ozmun. The constant Olympic Club pressure did give them a few penalties, and they nailed three of them.

The Lions picked up one penalty kick, but found themselves again on the back foot as a yellow card put them a man down.

At halftime, the Olympic Club led 9-3.

As the second half opened the intensity only elevated with both forward packs punching the ball.  Unlike last year’s playoff game, the Lions scrum was stronger, preventing Olympic Club from driving over the ball in key set pieces.  This time it was Olympic Club that spent most f the time on defense.

The Lions were on the cusp of scoring several times but were shut down by O-Club. Finally, after repeated attacks by the Sacramento Lions, a frustrated Olympic player received a yellow carded. Up a man the Lions had just enough space. Epeli Uluiviti went over, and converted to make it 10-9 Sacramento.

Olympic Club surged back to try to get the winning score, but an easy kick to take the lead was missed and the Lions held on.

Meanwhile, also in NorCal, the EPA Bulldogs, led by captain Jack Halalilo, put in a good team effort to win 50-0 over the Bay Barbarians.

SFGG smacked the EPA Razorbacks 68-0, while San Mateo overcame the Capitals 44-19 in a game coach Holani Vaka said was not a particularly polished performance, but enough.

San Mateo and SFGG improve to 2-1. Olympic Club, national finalists last year, are now 1-2 and 5^th.