Cal Wins Storer Classic over UCLA
Cal Wins Storer Classic over UCLA
Cal rugby shut out UCLA 21-0 on Day Two of the Dennis Storer Classic to top the tournament for the 18th consecutive year.
The Golden Bears victory followed on Day One victories over UC San Diego (94-0) and Cal Poly (33-7).
“First, we want to thank UCLA for their hosting of the tournament,” said Cal Head Coach Jack Clark. “We also appreciate the game that the Bruins delivered today, as well as that of Cal Poly and UCSD. In general it was fun to play again. Rugby is fun, competing is fun and being together is fun. And it was a pretty solid start. It’s about building from here.”
The Bears struck first in the contest on Sunday afternoon to secure an advantage they would never give up. Cal worked its way into UCLA territory and won an attacking lineout to set up a strong maul. A few phases later, Caleb Tomasin caught the ball on the wing and carried it in. Kealan O’Connell converted to make it 7-0 in favor of the Bears.
Over the next few minutes, Cal’s defense held UCLA deep in Bruin territory. With their backs pushed against their own tryline, UCLA attempted to swing the ball out to their left wing, but Max Threlkeld intercepted the pass and raced in to make it 12-0. O’Connell converted and Cal led 14-0, a lead they would hold into halftime.
The two teams battled in the second half and traded possessions back and forth, putting both sides of the ball to work. UCLA was shown a yellow card early in the second half and played a man down for five minutes in the shortened game.
Cal scored its third try seven minutes into the second half when scrumhalf Solomon Williams broke and fed prop Emilio Shea in support. Shea offloaded to an accelerating Tomasin, who took it all the way in and then around under the posts. O’Connell added the extras.
UCLA was on the attack in the final minutes and worked its way down into Bear territory, but Cal never let the Bruins cross the tryline to shut them out and win the contest.
It was a good start for Cal, with everyone on the travel party getting time, including 22 freshmen and sophomores. The Bears tallied 22 tries by 15 different players across their three games, with Mack Fell notching five.
Cal looks ahead to Santa Clara on Wednesday and then on Saturday they host UC Santa Barbara.
UCLA lossed wins over UC San Diego (19-12) and UC Santa Cruz (26-7) on Day One of the Storer Classic. Coming up their 2nd XV face Southern California next Saturday and then a week later the Bruins open conference play against Utah in LA.
