Feb. 22, 2005

AUSTIN - The University of California Varsity Rugby team finished their Texas weekend with an 83-5 victory over the Texas Longhorns. Honorable Mention All-American fullback Andrew Blair scored 3 tries and hit 9 conversions, for a personal tally of 33 points. This victory over the Longhorns and Saturday's victory over A&M takes the Bears to 11-0.

Today's line up featured 12 changes from the team that defeated Texas A&M 61-8. Most notably with captain and All American Tony Vontz returning to lead, fellow All American, Cyrus Dorosti, Brian McClenahan, Daniel Grinter and Louis Stanfill in the tight five. Rickus Pretorius wearing the number 6 shirt rounds out the changes in the forward pack. Louis Stanfill had to leave the match early with a stomach virus making way for replacement lock Miles Jones.

Notably missing from the Cal forward pack this weekend is Jake Stanfill, who injured his knee in Cal's 15-5 victory over UBC. The results of an MRI revealed a torn ligament in his knee ruling him out for the remainder of the season.

Varsity Rugby Head Coach Jack Clark commented on the loss of the 2003 All American lock; "There is no way to spin Jake Stanfill's absence this season from our team. It's a devastating setback to us both technically and emotionally. We are deeply disappointed for Jake, he was a legitimate candidate for collegiate player of the year and a dominant force within the competition."

The back division also had its share of changes as Ryan Donnelly and Rob Weedon return to the centers. In the deep three, prolific scoring machine, Andrew Blair returns to fullback along with wings Andy Hanks and freshman Scott Kidd. Finally freshman Jason Lee gets his first varsity start of the year at the scrum half position.

The match conditions were miserable to say the least. The sunny 80-degree temperature and heavy humidity was a big change from the cool and wet of February in Northern California. Despite the harsh conditions it was roughly a point per minute affair for the Bears.

Just 1 minute into the match Ryan Donnelly took a short ball off Pat Castles to draw first blood for the Bears. Then Andrew Blair scored the first of his three after some hard driving from Rikus Pretorius condensed the Texas defense so that straight passing sent Blair over out wide. Converting his try, the visitors went ahead 12-0 with 12 minutes played.

Skipper Tony Vontz emerged in the back line with some quick hands, giving Louis Stanfill the ball about 25 meters out with some work to do. Stanfill shook off several defenders to score his try, shortly before his departure, which Blair converted.

Freshman, scrum half, Jason Lee capitalized on some good defensive scrum pressure to poach a ball at the back of the Texas scrum and scamper over to touch down between the posts. Andrew Blair also scored, his second, from defensive pressure. A ball stolen at the ruck went from sideline to sideline twice via some slick handling from the Bears. The end result was Blair over for a try in the corner, which he converted.

Cal scored one final time before the half ended this time it was Tony Vontz via a line out drive near the Texas goal line, taking Cal's total to 40 with about 3 minutes to play in the half. Texas took advantage of some indecision at the line of touch to win a ball and move it wide. The Bear defense was slow to react and Texas had their first score of the match. Missing the conversion the score at the intermission was California 40, Texas 5.

8 minutes into the second half All American tight head Cyrus Dorosti anchored a line out drive near the line. His touchdown gave the Bears another 5 points. Andy Hanks' replacement, sophomore, Chris Gurecki got in on the action thanks to Blair who occupied two Texas defenders from a scrum center. Gurecki's try began a Varsity scoring frenzy with Cal players crossing the Texas line roughly every 5 minutes.

Gurecki's try was followed by a Pretorius try at the back of a line out drive. Then Blair got his thrid try the result of 3 quick back line passes running right from a line out on the left hand touch line. Freshman Scott Kidd followed Blair's lead and took a quick tap penalty from Vontz to score Cal's eleventh try. Before the match ended Gurecki scored another and Pretorius got his second, with Blair's conversion the final score line was California 83, Texas 5.

"All in all a reasonably successful trip. We had a few moments of good rugby both days, and I like the fact that it was hot and miserable," said Coach Clark.

The Scoring:

Tries: Blair(3), Gurecki(2), Pretorius(2), L. Stanfill, Lee, Donnelly, Vontz, Dorosti, Kidd

Cons: Blair(9)

Pens:

The Team:

15. Blair, 14. Hanks, (Gurecki, 19), 13. Weedon, 12. Donnelly 11. Kidd, 10. Castles, 9. Lee, 1. McClenahan, 2. Vontz©, 3. Dorosti, 4. Grinter, 5. L. Stanfill, (Jones, 15), 6. Welch, 7. Pretorius, 8. Lindsey.

In the reserve grade match Cal defeated Texas 70-3.