With a tight 20-19 win over Ventura County, the Sin City Irish of Las Vegas are fat and happy in first place in the Southern California DII club league.

Pasadena has kept pace  and then some with Sin City, beating Kern County 50-7 and inching closer to the Irish thanks to a four-try bonus point that the Las Vegas team did not get.

Sin City needed a last-minute try from scrumhalf Ronnie Sanchez to get that victory, and club president Michael Hutcherson said the game was a good lesson in how to pull out a win.

“It was a good, tough game, but perhaps not our toughest game,” Hutcherson said. “I thought San Fernando Valley was tough, too. We’re still learning what it takes to compete in this league.”

San Fernando Valley is at 2-1, their only loss a 30-24 decision to the Irish two weeks ago. They were idle this weekend.

Ventura County is 2-2-1 and not out of it, while the South Bay Rhinos, with their 30-14 victory over North County, are 5^th.

In Arizona, Tempe’s close win over previously 2-1 Scottsdale puts them clear in 1^st at 4-0. Red Mountain improves to 3-1 with a 54-22 defeat of Phoenix.

In Florida, the crossover postseason is in its third week.

The Naples Hammerheads defeated Daytona Beach 30-25 to stay in first and this likely clinched a home field playoff game for them.

Orlando was shocked by Fort Lauderdale 26-19, but still remain in good position for a home playoff game.

The Tampa Bay Krewe edged the Miami Tridents 23-19.

The loss by Orlando doesn’t hurt them overmuch; it means they will be hard-pressed to move up to third, and should finish 4^th. Naples has some breathing room in first, followed by Krewe and Boca Raton. Those four will host matches in the final crossover games.

Fort Lauderdale, by virtue of the upset, could have secured themselves a more favorable final game.

In Texas, Frisco is still in first place at 6-0. They had a week off. At 5-1, Houston, also, was idle. The big movers are Shreveport, who leapfrogged Houston into 2^nd after beating Katy 44-15. Flyhalf Brandon Trant had a big day, scoring three tries, two conversions and getting a yellow card, too. No. 7 Anthony Gregory scored two tries.

In Northern California, Santa Rosa and Fresno both won big again to move to 2-0. Berkeley put in an impressive 69-17 rout of the Sacramento Capitals and seem to be hitting their stride at 2-1.


This week's Men's DII club results
Bay Area 58-24 Dallas Athletic
Alamo City 36-27 Oklahoma City
Shreveport 44-15 Katy

Santa Rosa 55-21 San Jose
Fresno 48-0 Marin
Berkeley 69-17 Sacramento Capitals
Diablo 33-16 Vacaville

Pasadena 50-7 Kern County
Sin City Irish 20-19 Ventura County
South Bay 30-14 North County
Riverside 27-19 Huntington Beach

Tempe 14-6 Scottsdale
Red Mountain 54-22 Phoenix
Camelback 27-20 Magpies
Old Pueblo 44-12 Northern Arizona

Tampa Bay 23-19 Miami Tridents
Fort Lauderdale 26-19 Orlando
Naples 30-25 Daytona Beach