Cal, UCLA Win; Look to Each Other Next Week
Cal, UCLA Win; Look to Each Other Next Week
Cal shut out Arizona 46-0 Saturday in Berkeley, setting down an early-season market for the Bears.
It was a rainy day at Witter Rugby Field, which wasn't the kind of weather either team preferred, but that's what they got.
Hooker Cade Crist scored a pair of tries while scrumhalf Solomon Wiliams, flyhalf Rand Santos, cetner Max Threlkeld, No. 8 Ieremia Ieremia, wing Jack Byszio, and wing Joe Kirsten also touched down, as the Golden bears are now 4-0.
"It was a solid effort from our boys," Cal team captain Charles Walsh told Calbears.com. "Our defense was good, but there were a couple things in our attack that let us down. We're proud of our performance but we've got a lot of work to do. We wish Arizona the best going forward."
The teams remained deadlocked 0-0 until the 14th minute, when Williams went over. That seemed to break the ice a bit and tries from Crist, Santos, and Threlkeld stakes the Bears to a 22-0 lead.
The second half was similar in that Arizona's defense held on for quite a while. But finally, past the midway point of the second half Ieremia was over, and in quick succession, Byszio (the transfer from Babson), Crist, and Kirsten wrapped it up.
"Winter's day in California. Not the easiest conditions for the players," said Cal Head Coach Jack Clark. "We thank Arizona for the visit and we are especially thankful for them traveling a reserve team. Lots of young men got to play rugby today."
Next up for Cal is UCLA at Witter Rugby Field.
The Bruins, for their part, bused out to Phoenix, Ariz. to face Grand Canyon. It was a tough road trip for UCLA but they came away with a 50-19 victory.
"It was definitely tough," said UCLA Head Coach Harry Bennett. "Any road game in College Rugby is tough, but the long bus right and bringing the clock forward an hour—something we prepared for— was difficult."
Bennett praised Grand Canyon Head Coach Sean O'Leary for hosting the team wel and added that playing at GCU's all-grass stadium "was a pretty awesome experience for the players. Sean hosted us exceptionally."
As for the game itself, patience was the watchword for UCLA.
"We haven't seen a whole lot of rugby since our fall tour," said Bennett, who perhaps felt his team was almost too eager because of the the layout extended by the cancelation of the Storer Classic. "We played UCSB which dusted off the cobwebs. And we're building off the back of that but the key was developing discipline and patience."
Overall it was a good showing for UCLA, but Bennett said they left some chances unclaimed and he needed to see a bit more precision. After all, "we have a really big test next."
That would be Cal.
Hooker Sam McMillan has been solid for UCLA for some years but Saturday in Phoenix he had his best game of the year, said Bennett. Loosehead prop Asbjorn Ross produced some big carries, while lock Will Sherman put in a massive, 80-minute shift.
"Games are won and lost in the engine room," said Bennett.
Certainly UCLA's engine room was in form.
