CWU Wins Snowball Fight Over Cal Poly

02.16.2025College Men

As the teams took the field for Cal Poly at Central Washington, CPSLO Head Coach Chris O'Brien looked around and said to himself that the conditions were perfect; then then snow came.

The snow started falling as teams warmed up at CWU's Tomlinson Stadium in Ellensburg Wash., which is 1,500 feet above sea level and certainly more prone to snow than sea-level Seattle (not to mention South California). And since this was a weekend where snow seemed to fall over much of the country, it didn't let up at this rugby game.

The upshot was a well-taken 20-12 victory for a Central Washington team still feeling a little undercooked.

"Conditions and Cal Poly made it very tough on us today," said CWU Head Coach Todd Thornley. "But we adapted enough to find a way to win. We have plenty to work on but I'm happy our guys had high off ball efforts which is something we can build off heading into a huge challenge next week."

"It was tough," added O'Brien. "It was tough for us but it was tough for them, too."

CWU started the game pressuring Cal Poly in the Mustangs' 22. Cal Poly held on but eventually gave up a penalty that Jac Tregoning put through the posts.

Points were going to be at a premium in this game, and as the snow began to stick on the ground it was going to get colder after every tackle.

A high tackle penalty on CP set up a Central Washington lineout about 10 meters from the Cal Poly line. The Wildcats set up the maul, which crabbed a bit infield. That allowed hooker Campbell Robb to pop off the back, sell a dummy, and carry a defender over the tryline to make it 8-0 CWU.

Central went right back down into Cal Poly territory off the restart and almost scored off a nice crash through the midfield. The Wildcats got a penalty, from which they ran a tap move that kind of fell apart, however another penalty set up a lineout. This time the CWU maul just trundled happily over the line for Robb's second.

Down 13-0 Cal Poly was able to get a little momentum back. CWU was a little slow in kicking for territory and center Coby Baker, who has been outstanding this season, blocked the kick, regathered, and ran the final 30 meters to score under the posts, gleefully sliding through the slush to do so. That kick was converted by Nicho Domine and it was 13-7 at halftime.

The halftime break was not good news for the footing, as the snow kept coming and now there were no players running around to melt it. It was a frozen tundra for the second half. Breakaways and acceleration were difficult, and thus the situation certainly favored the defense.

CWU got some territory on a nice wiper kick gathered on the wing. A Cal Poly penalty then led to a lineout and maul. This time Central sent Tiai Vavao off the back of the maul and he shouldered his way through several defenders to score near the posts. Tregonig added the extras for a 20-7 lead.

Cal Poly had a bit more of the run of play for the next 10 minutes or so, but what they needed was a penalty to put over the bar because they weren't getting near the tryline.

Finally that happened, however, as Domine spotted a mismatch out wide. The Mustangs were able to get into scoring position, kept the pressure up with the forwards, and finally the ball was sent wide to fullback Julian DeRaffele who scrambled his way over for the try.

That made it 20-12. Central almost answered right off the restart but were held-up in-goal. It was an almighty battle after that, but no more points came. Cal Poly did have a chance to threaten, but Central Washington's defense was up to the task.

"I am proud of the guys for staying in the fight to the end," said O'Brien. "Central Washington I think did a very good job at clearing ball and we needed to be a bit better in our game management and those IQ moments."

Baker, the team captain, No. 8 Ryan Wenstrom, scrumhalf Paddy Casey, lock Wyatt O'Connor, and flanker Dean Hall were all big performers for Cal Poly.

For CWU Tregoning's boot was hugely important and Robb put in a full shift. Their midfield defense was massive.