Led by the Tavai brothers, Mira Costa’s rugby team is running on all cylinders as the Mustangs look to reclaim the Southern California Youth Rugby championship.
Senior Justus Tavai and his younger brother Jonah, a sophomore, are spearheading head coach Duke Dulgarian’s undefeated squad that will face a challenge for first place when Mira Costa hosts an athletic View Park Prep team Friday at 8 p.m.
“View Park Prep is one of two matches, the other being St. John Bosco, that will determine first place,” Dulgarian said. “Both sides are extremely athletic with St. John Bosco being a very big team. We have a very athletic squad this year although we are very small in our forward pack. Our big players are the Tavai brothers. Jonah plays the Number 8 position and is a very special player. He is extremely strong and he knows how to make it very difficult to tackle him. He is also brilliant on the pitch as he is so familiar with the game.”
Justus Tavai plays inside center and runs the Mustang’s backline. A powerful runner with great rugby knowledge, he also has the ability to kick the ball, adding huge dimension to the offense.
Team Captain Justin Johnson plays the lock position and is the glue that keeps the forwards together. Gunnar Kissman is a flanker who adds an intensity that can intimidate the opposing backline.
Dulgarian is excited about many of his new players, most coming with football backgrounds.
“All-CIF quarterback David Arredondo plays flanker for us and All-Area linebacker Jordan Fischer plays prop as well as our fullback Sean Walker,” Dulgarian said. “Fly-half Brandon Espeso, wing Kevin Russell and scrum-half Harrison Dulgarian bring knowledge of the game that gives us cohesiveness.”
Mira Costa is coming off a 77-8 non-league win at Servite in which Jonah Tavai scored four trys of 8, 12, 17 and a dazzling 56-meter score set up by a pass from Russell.
Johnson added two scores from long distance, intercepting a lineout for a 41-meter return that was followed up by a 56-meter pick-and-go. Wing Alec Oshita provided support for Espeso who took a perfect from his teammate for another score.
“Justus Tavai was his usual dominant presence on the pitch as he was able to control the flow of the match while scoring and making some beautiful passes,” Dulgarian said. “One completely unselfish play came after Justus had found the Try Zone unmolested and prior to touching down the ball he offloaded to a teammate so the teammate could share in the scoring.”
The highlight of the day came from newcomer Kaden Loversky. Playing in the backline, Loversky scored on three different occasions and also used his leg with impressive kicks. Loverksy’s first score of his varsity career led him to take part in the rugby tradition of “Shooting the Boot” where the player drinks from a rugby shoe, also known as a cleat.
Although beer is the beverage chugged by rugby players of drinking age, water is the substitute for the younger generation of the sport that will make its return to the Summer Olympic Games this year in Rio de Janeiro. The United States is the defending gold medal champion dating back to 1924.
The resurgence of rugby is growing as fast as the sport of lacrosse did a decade ago. Mira Costa won the SCYR Championship in the Mustang’s inaugural season in 2014 and has produced five players competing on the collegiate level including Harrison Morrow who, as a freshman, was the starting flanker for the 2015 Division 1AA National Championship UC Davis team.
Mira Costa (4-0) opened the season with a 27-2 victory over Granite Hills then recorded a 46-19 victory against visiting Dana Hills.
Mira Costa dominated this year’s edition of the South Bay Scrum Down, routing a depleted Palos Verdes Sea Kings team 82-12. At times the match looked more like a track meet than a rugby match as the Mustangs were able to consistently find the Try Zone.
The Mustangs’ unselfish play was evident in the scoring as eight different players were able to generate points. Jonah Tavai and outside center Makai Elep each had three Trys, Inside center Justus Tavai, outside center Jermal Williams and fullback Sean Walker each had two Trys and forward captain lock Justin Johnson also found pay dirt. Flanker David Arredondo and scrum half Harrison Dulgarian each had conversions to add to the scoring.
It was the third consecutive victory for the Mustangs in the annual South Bay Scrum Down giving them the right to retain possession of “The Oar” – the perpetual trophy of the match.
After a road game to Long Beach Wilson on Saturday, Jan. 16, Mira Costa returns home to celebrate Senior Night with a critical game against defending champion St. John Bosco on Friday, Jan. 22 at 7 p.m.
