April 30, 2004
STANFORD, Calif. - The Cal varsity rugby team took one step closer towards its 20th National Championship by dispatching the Midshipmen of the U.S. Naval Academy, 32-15, in one semifinal match of the National Championship on Friday at Stanford. The Golden Bears fielded a mixed team, with the absence of All-Americans Kyle Khasigian and Joel DiGiorgio as well as senior fullback Andrew Blair.
Just three minutes into the match, freshman Chris Gurecki slotted a penalty kick to put Cal ahead by three. Navy answered back with an unconverted try followed shortly thereafter by a penalty kick to take the lead, 8-3.
The Bears then took control of the half and scored four unanswered tries. The first came from some smooth handling out wide, sending winger Jacques Wilson over in the corner. Cal freshman Joe Welch, not to be left out of the scoring, picked up the ball at the base of a ruck and crossed over for the second try in four minutes. Stand-in fly half Robert Weedon ran a deceptive switch move from a five-meter scrum to score his try. Finally, sophomore Chase Brogan touched down from a well-crafted backline move. Gurecki converted, leaving the score at the half Cal 25, Navy 8.
At the beginning of the second half, it appeared Cal was comfortably in the driver's seat as Jacques Wilson scored a 60-meter breakaway try from a scrum center on Cal's side of halfway. Unfortunately, the heat and fatigue began to take its toll on both teams as the pace of the match slowed and the errors increased. Navy was able to capitalize during this lull period to score a try going into the final quarter. However, it was too little too late as the Bears held on to win, 32-15.
On the other side of the bracket, Cal Poly defeated the U.S. Air force Academy, 35-32, setting up a rematch between the two teams which met in early April. Kick off is at 4 p.m. on Saturday at Steuber Rugby Complex at Stanford.
Cal coach Jack Clark commented after the match, "Navy was true to their reputation. It's safe to say they don't get cheated on their tackles. Our best game may still be inside us, but we did enough today to have a crack at the title, which is all we can ask. Cal Poly will be a very difficult opponent for us as they proved in early April. They are polished and explosive with very few deficiencies in their game."
The Scoring:
Tries:
Wilson 2, Welch, Weedon, Brogan
Cons:
Gurecki 2
Pens:
Gurecki
The Team:
15. Brogan, 14. Wilson, 13. Gurecki, 12. Donnelley, 11. Hanks, 10. Weedon, 9. DiGiorgio, (Wright, 75), 8. Boggs, 7. Welch, (Lindsey, 50-60, 63), 6. Wallace, 5. Stanfill, 4. Tausend, 3. MacDonald, 2. Vontz, 1. McClenahan
