May 1, 2010
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STANFORD, Calif.- California defeated Brigham Young, 19-7, Saturday night at Steuber Rugby Stadium to win the 25th national championship in program history. The Golden Bears finished the year at 26-0, their first perfect season since 2002, refusing to allow BYU to repeat as champs in the two teams' fifth straight meeting in the title match.
Lock Eric Fry, who scored the game's first try and relentlessly tracked down Cougar ball carriers in his final match in blue and gold, was named the final's Most Valuable Player.
"It's surreal right now," said Fry. "It meant so much to us this year and I'm so happy to go out like this."
"It was epic," said Bears head coach Jack Clark. "I just couldn't be any more proud of our guys."
Flyhalf Keegan Engelbrecht booted two penalties - the second making it more than a two-try advantage for Cal in the second half - and added a drop goal to contribute nine points.
Cal made five changes to their starting lineup coming off of Friday's semifinal, and the fresh legs boosted the 10 Bears who were playing their second match on back-to-back days. With the Bears matching the physicality, skill and intensity of their Cougar counterparts, Cal was clearly determined to bring the national title back to Berkeley.
BYU scrumhalf Shaun Davies missed a penalty attempt from 40 meters at the 25th minute, and the Cougars were held scoreless until No. 8 Ryan Roundy was awarded a try, converted by Davies, with six minutes remaining.
Cal rugby has now won 25 of the 31 national title games played in the United States since 1980, when the modern national collegiate championship was inaugurated by USA Rugby.
Golden Bear Jack Clark notched his 21st title as Cal's head coach to close out his 27th year at the helm in 2010. He has guided the Bears to 21 national titles and has a career coaching record of 496-68-5 (.871), all at Cal.
Saturday night's championship victory sealed the Bears first undefeated season since 2002, when the Rugby Bears finished 19-0.
Graduating co-captains Engelbrecht, Fry and center Colin Hawley left it all on the field one more time, and exited the pitch as national champions.
The Cougars (14-3), who only lose two starters going into next season, held their heads high for their effort against the Bears.
"Our concern was to try and get in the game, meet them at the front door and try and put some pressure on them," said BYU head coach David Smyth. "I think we did well for the most part although we fell asleep a couple of times and they made us pay. Good teams make you pay for mistakes. Two great teams going at it is what college rugby should be all about."
The Scoring Timeline:
04:00 Eric Fry 5
21:00 Keegan Engelbrecht 3
38:00 Neill Barrett 5
Halftime: California 13, Brigham Young 0
65:00 Keegan Engelbrecht 3
74:00 BYU (Ryan Roundy) 5, (Shaun Davies) 2
77:00 Keegan Engelbrecht 3
Final Score: California 19, Brigham Young 7
The Team vs. Brigham Young:
15. Bailes, 14. Muhn, 13. Hawley, 12. Gallinger, 11. Scully, 10. Engelbrecht ©, 9. Mase, 1. Deterding, 2. N. Barrett, 3. Besser, 4. D. Hyjer, 5. Fry, 6. Asbun, 7. Rooke (Law @ 70:00, Rooke @ 72:00, Law @ 77:00), 8. D. Barrett
