LOS ANGELES – The University of California went 3-0 Saturday in the first days of the Dennis Storer Classic at UCLA.

The tournament of shortened 15s games pitts teams from the University of California system against each other, and the Berkeley-based Cal team defeated UC San Diego 61-0, UC Santa Cruz 66-0, and UC Davis 36-0 - the Aggies did hold the Bears to 5-0 at halftime. This set up what is essentially the championship game against UCLA on Sunday. Cal scored 25 tries to none as 46 Golden Bears notched playing time. 

“It was important for the squad to get some live action,” said head coach Jack Clark. “We are trying to figure out what we have to work with and getting competition minutes for so many players is helpful to that end.”

Cal began its campaign with a nine-try shutout of UC San Diego as No. 8 Drew Gaffney and fullback Jake Goena both scored two tries while Jamie Howells went 8-for-9 on conversions in the 61-0 win. 

Next up was a 66-0 victory over UC Santa Cruz, with two more tries for Goena, another pair byHugo d'Auriol and 8-of-9 conversion kicking by Matthew Coyle. 

Against UC Davis to end the afternoon, five different Bears found the try zone in addition to a team try on a penalty, with 3-of-6 conversion kicking by Harry Adolphus in a 36-0 win. 

“We were good at times and not so great at other times,” coach Clark said. “It looked like early days of the season, because it is.” Nine starting opportunities went to freshman and seven starts were made by sophomores across the three matches. “The Bruins will of course provide us the biggest test tomorrow and we're grateful challenge,” added Clark.

Sunday's match against UCLA will wrap up the Dennis Storer Classic, named for the Bruins' former head coach and the first coach of the U.S. National Team in the modern era in 1976.

Can 61-0 UC San Diego

Tries: Sweet, Howells, Chipman, Goena 2, Gaffney 2, Maggs, Goodwin

Convs: Howells 8

 

Cal 66-0 UC Santa Cruz

 

Tries: Fullers, Goena 2, Ternan, d'Auriol 2, Flynn, Kawash, Iscaro, Le Merle

Convs: Coyle 8

 

 

Cal 36-0 UC Davis 

Tries: Adolphus, Penalty Try, Zerbino, A. Salaber, Sullivan, Tavenner

Convs: Adolphus 3

 

Full scores from Saturday's action:

Cal 61 UCSD 0