Photos: Jay Coulter (view more)
The South Bay U16s are enjoying a particularly successful season thus far. Specializing in 7s, the squad is the three-time reigning Southern California Youth Rugby (SCYR) champion, California State Games U18 champion, and is preparing for its debut at the North American Invitational (NAI) 7s tournament this week.
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Myron Mailo is a parent, rugby enthusiast, and as of this season head coach of the South Bay U16s. He was on the sidelines when today’s core – daughter Siniva, assistant coach Maggie Moala’s daughter Manaia, and Manaia’s cousin Amaya – first entered the U10 co-ed league. He cheered them on when they played up on the South Bay U14s and beat Fallbrook – the first time any South Bay girls’ team had defeated Fallbrook. After serving as a volunteer and then assistant coach, Mailo took over the U16s to aid Emo Pula, head coach of the U18s. And while there is some coordination between the two age groups, the teams essentially operate independently.
At present, the numbers in Southern California support 7s at the girls’ U16 level, and Mailo is good with that.
“I understand it’s difficult for other clubs to man 15-a-side, especially in the [younger] divisions, so I’m all in support [for 7s],” Mailo said. “And being a new coach, it made it much easier to only have to worry about seven girls versus 15, and the beast of strategy and what not that comes with 15s. It was a blessing from my perspective.
“And because U18s play 15s and U16s play 7s, it made it much more difficult [to combine efforts],” the coach added. “Sometimes the U18 girls were doing things that weren’t applicable to us and vice versa.”
The South Bay U16s sample 15s with the SoCal Griffins, but during the rest of the year, they excel in 7s. En route to its third-straight SCYR championship, the Spartans went undefeated – 15-0 – and averaged a 38-point margin of victory. The team entered summer 7s, and while the squad continued to dominate, it wasn’t infallible. The weekend before the Cal State Games, South Bay dropped a 21-12 final to the Aztecs in an SCYR 7s tournament.
“I had a feeling they were underestimating the Aztecs,” the coach reflected. “I’ve always told them to never underestimate an opponent, but they had to learn it the hard way. Losing that game prepared us for the following week, and [at Cal State Games] I saw a sense of urgency; they weren’t expecting a team to lie down. They worked hard and stayed humble.”
South Bay upped its expectations at the Cal State Games and entered its U16 team into the U18 division, along with the South Bay U18 team. The team wanted to test itself but also address the critique that its legacy of success spoke more to the level of competition at the U16 level.
During pool play, South Bay U16 outscored the Arizona Bobcats and Coastal Dragons U18s 76-0, setting up a semifinal against the South Bay U18s.
“It was with a little bit of a smile, but we were going to go at it,” recalled Mailo, whose players were facing a team that featured Girls’ High School All-American Rian Moala (she graduated high school a year early and was still eligible). “We beat our older girls 31-10. That was huge and silenced all the critics that we don’t play anyone all season.”
Fallbrook U18 defeated Coastal Dragons 43-0 in the other semifinal.
“Our rival is Fallbrook and always has been,” Mailo said. “They’re the team we’re trying to emulate. I used to tell my daughter to watch Lilly [Durbin]. She’s small but packs a big punch. She’s got heart – they all have heart.”
With two minutes to go in the final, the teams were tied 14-all. Fallbrook sent a restart to South Bay scrumhalf Nadia Su’a-Keohuloa, who moved the ball inside to winger Mailo. She raced outside for the go-ahead try, 21-14.
“I was trying to indicate to the girls to kick the ball out, but they didn’t. All they know is attack. There was a turnover and a final try, 28-14,” Mailo said of the win. “It was such a huge moment for our girls … but they didn’t realize how huge it was for our club. They are all 15 years old – our two 16-year-olds were reserves. If you have heart and work hard, you can accomplish anything.”
The win also reinforced that the team is on the right track, and that the skills and strategy the staff have been implementing during training are working. But there are still heights to achieve this summer.
The U16s have faced competition outside of Southern California, but it’s been contained to the Las Vegas 7s, a tournament that marks the beginning of the team’s season.
“It’s not a good indicator of how good the team is considering players are coming in out of shape or first-timers,” Mailo said. “So I thought the NAI 7s would be a good test to see how we’d do at the end of our season.”
The team heading to Salt Lake City is mostly freshmen and sophomores, and captained by rising 10th graders Manaia Moala and Siniva Mailo. South Bay will compete in the U16 Open along with Atlantis U16, Land Park JV, Idaho Grey Wolves and Arizona Bobcats.
“There are a lot of variables – weather, travel – that may factor into a good or bad performance at NAI 7s, but I know it won’t be because we underestimated an opponent,” Mailo looked ahead. “If we get beat, it’ll be by a better team. I know they’re tuned in. … This team still has a lot goals and the girls are anxious to accomplish them.”
SOUTH BAY U16 / NAI 7s
1 – Shy Tonumaipea (Freshman)
2 – Ahnea Aupiu (Freshman)
3 – Klarice Wolfgramm (Freshman)
4 – Manaia Moala (Freshman) – Captain
5 – Siniva Mailo (Freshman) – Captain
6 – Amaya Moala (Freshman)
7 – Alexis Villagran (Sophomore)
8 – Zonaye Tupuola (Freshman)
9 – Nadia Su’a-Keohuloa (Junior)
10 – Leilani Flowers (Sophomore)
11 – Jayla Delia (Sophomore)
12 – Tynesa Taulua (Sophomore)
13 – Punipuao Skipps (Freshman)