In a game that saw nine lead changes, the California Golden bears rode three late tries and the adventurous approach to their game that they had pursued all season to defeated Life University 55-38 Saturday night in the D1A final in Indianapolis.
Held at Kuntz Stadium, the new rugby facility in Indianapolis, the championship match was a spectacle. With a boisterous crowd supporting both teams, the game provided plenty for both to cheer about.
Cal opened up the scoring with a Filip Edstrom penalty goal. But Life answered by getting close to the Cal line and then sending it wide for wing James Rose to dive over in the corner. Bradley Crane hit the touchline conversion for the 7-3 lead. Cal worked their way down to the Life tryline to answer and powered Dom Paga over for a 10-7 lead.
Right off the restart, however, Cal was penalized for obstruction and the Running Eagles mauled it over with ruthless efficiency. Penalties and a little impatience put Cal on their back foot, and the Running Eagles ran the maul once more, worked it wider, and again powered over. Now it was 19-10 for Life.
Cal opened up their attack once more before working it over with freshman prop Oliver Kirk breaking tackles to score. Then a bit of magic as a kick ahead was chased down by Edstrom, who fell on the ball and popped it up in the same movement for Max Threlkeld to take and score.
The Bears had the lead back at 24-19. Undaunted, Life responded with a long, weaving run from Kade Cunningham. That made it 26-24 for Life. Another lead change.
With halftime approaching Cal launched off a lineout and sent it wide where Emmett Cook, on for a blood sub, took the pass on the right wing and cut back for the try. Conversion good and it was 31-26. That is how the half ended, but there were signs of difficulty for both teams. Life's Philani Simamane was forced to leave with an injury, and that forced a shift in their backline. Meanwhile, Cal lost lock Tom Dixon early and while Byron Finley was an experienced replacement, it was clear he had not expected to take the field that early.
