Feb. 16, 2005

BERKELEY - The University of California Varsity Rugby team defeated Canadian rivals, the Thunderbirds of the University of British Columbia who compete in the Vancouver Premier League, 15-5. The match is the first of the 2005 home and away series between the two universities, whom compete every year for the World Cup, a trophy donated by the World Newspaper in Vancouver in the early 20th century. Last year UBC won the series defeating the Bears in Berkeley 18-14 and 26-17 in Vancouver.

The Cal line up featured two changes from the team that defeated Sacramento State 60-5 last week. Daniel Grinter returns to the side of the scrum in the number 6 jersey and freshman Scott Kidd comes in on the wing. Joel DiGiorgio was ruled out by a late fitness test, and without the services of backup halfback Andy Johnson, third-team halfback Brendan Wright started the match.

As all matches between the two esteemed rugby universities, the physicality was nothing short of ferocious. The Varsity had all the run of play in the opening exchanges as the T-Birds were slow getting out of the gates. Just 14 minutes into the match a packed South stand held its breath as Jake Stanfill, Cal's 2003 All-American, was helped off the field with a leg injury. The Bears could not transform the continued Cal pressure into points.

The Bears were ultimately rewarded for their efforts in the 26 minute with a scrum center at the Birds 22-meter mark. Andrew Lindsey ran right and found Andrew Blair entering the line at pace. Blair was tackled just short of the line. Brian McClenahan picked up the ball at the base of the ensuing ruck and powered over the goal line for Cal's first try. Blair missed the conversion leaving the score 5-0 to the Bears.

The Bears lost another stalwart in their starting lineup when Ryan Donnelly had to be permanently replaced for blood by Devin Wright. The remainder of the half saw both teams probing and testing each others defenses, but neither was able to put anything on the board. After 40 minutes played the score remained Cal 5, UBC 0.

The second half started with that same ferocity as UBC started firing on all cylinders. Cal had to weather being down a man, as just five minutes into the half, replacement lock Miles Jones was given a yellow card for an infringement near the goal line.

The Bears defended through wave after wave of UBC attack when Andrew Blair chipped a stolen ball behind the UBC back line. Andy Hanks gave chase resulting in a 40-meter footrace to the ball in goal with his opposite number. Hanks winning the race was obstructed by his opposite resulting in a penalty try. Blair's conversion took the Varsity's lead 12 points clear.

Blair followed shortly after with a penalty kick inside the UBC 22, giving the Bears a 15-0 lead. However UBC was not finished. After 10 minutes of being camped inside Cal's 22-meter line, a quick pick and jam from a goal line ruck gave UBC its first five points of the match. But with only five minutes remaining, it was too little too late, leaving the final score Cal 15, UBC 5.

"It was a brave victory. The Cal faithful expect a supreme effort out of us against the Birds, and I believe we put in an effort to be proud of. As pleased as I am for our lads, we are a long way from the finished product. This is a well grounded team that sees February victories for what they are. The business end of this competition is in April and we must stay on the improvement track," commented Cal Varsity Rugby Head Coach Jack Clark.

The Scoring:

Tries: McClenahan, Hanks

Cons: Blair

Pens: Blair

The Team:

15. Blair, 14. Hanks, 13. Weedon, 12. Donnelly, (D. Wright, 25, [Gurecki, 76]), 11. Kidd, 10. Castles, 9. B. Wright, 1. McClenahan, 2. Vontz©, 3. Dorosti 4. L. Stanfill, 5. J. Stanfill, (Jones, 14), 6. Grinter, (Welch, 67), 7. Pretorius, 8. Lindsey