The
California (22-0, 6-0) got off to a shaky start, yielding a penalty just two minutes into the match, setting up a three-pointer for Gaels (9-2, 4-1) fullback Max Heath. Bear flyhalf James Bailes then knotted the score two minutes later with his own penalty kick from 30 meters. The scoring momentum continued when fullback Blaine Scully dotted down in minute seven, followed by a converted try in the 14th minute by winger Dustin Muhn, The scoreline moved to 15-3 favoring the Bears. The Gaels answered with aggressive attacks, earning a try from No. 8 Joe Brophy’s run along the left side in the 22nd minute. With the scoreline narrowed to 15-8, a breakaway run by Gaels flyhalf Bubba Jones was cut short by a Derek Asbun high tackle which earned the Muhn and Bailes then added tries in the 35th and 40th minutes to put the Bears back on top by a dozen points for the halftime break. If the Bears’ first-half start was shaky, the second frame opened with a rock-solid offensive salvo. No. 8 Danny Barrett touched down twice, while flanker Tom Rooke and outside center Seamus Kelly added tries. James Bailes’ three conversions brought the tally to 53-15 The Gaels then went back to the offensive, led by Nick Wallace and Garrett Brewer who each scored converted tries in the 65th and 68th minutes, making the score 53-29. Blaine Scully answered with a converted score -- his third of the day -- in the 72nd minute on a right side end run after a mauling push to the Gaels’ tryzone. St Mary’s put the final punctuation mark on the match with an unconverted try by Andrew Cook four minutes before fulltime was whistled. A reserve-grade contest followed the main event, ending with a 46-12
Sunday’s win locks the No.1 position in the CPD’s Pacific Conference for the Bears, giving them home field advantage in a national quarterfinal face-off with the Mid-South Conference’s No. 2 side. At this point, The "home field" advantage is moot for the itinerent Bears while Witter Field is decommissioned for rugby. Venue really hasn't been a factor in CPD action.-- there's actually been a home field disadvantage of 3.7 percent this season.
The Bears' final CPD match will be a April 23 contest against Cal Poly SLO in
In other CPD action this weekend:
Penn State edged22-17 Ohio State Navy got by Kutztown 24-20
Arizona State shut out27-0 Wyoming
Life University trounced Notre Dame 56-3
Dartmouth squeezed by Rutgers 34-31Army beat
40-13 Delaware
Utah defeated 43-17 Colorado LSU whipped
38-5 Oklahoma BYU walloped
70-12 Arizona
Arkansas State skunked70-23 Tennessee Air Force gave it to
46-10 Colorado State UCLA handled
24-10 Claremont
San Diego State routed UC Davis 45-19
The Top of the Tables - College Premier Division
Pacific Conference
1 -
(6-0) California 2- St Mary’s (4-1)
Western Conference
1 - BYU (6-0)
2 -
(4-1) Arizona State
Mid-South Conference
1 -
(4-1) Life University 2 -
(4-0) Arkansas State
Rugby East Conference 1 - Army (4-0)
2 - Navy (4-0)
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