BERKELEY – Sixteen tries by nine different players took California to a 106-7 win over Utah Valley University, a victory preceded by the Golden Bears' 65-10 result over Cal Maritime Saturday on Witter Rugby Field.
 
Sophomore winger Sam Cusano led all scorers with 20 points on four tries as Cal improved to 10-0 (1-0 PAC) on the season with its win over the Wolverines from Utah Valley. Flyhalf Jamie Howells finished with 19 points on a try and seven conversions (7-for-10), and his replacement, Elliot Webb, added 17 points on his try and six conversions (6-for-6). Wing Zachary Tavenner and center Christian Dyer each scored the first of their two tries as Cal built a 50-0 halftime lead over UVU.
 
Utah Valley averted a shutout with a try by flanker Fatai Makavala that was converted by Nephi Ledua at minute 46, after which the Bears added seven more tries to their final tally.
 
"Our game plan was to play quick," said lock Ben Casey. "We put in some good tackles and started making them go backwards as well. Our forwards did a good job of doing some damage in the middle of the field and making it easier for our backs to get to the corner."
 
No. 8 Thomas Robles agreed, adding, "We came into this weekend looking to spread the ball more. Getting good, go-forward ball definitely helped the backs with that plan."
 
Prior to their win over Utah Valley, the Bears defeated Cal Maritime with 11 tries scored by eight student-athletes, including high-scorer Justin Dunn, who recorded four tries from the wing. Freshman flyhalf Desi Streater finished with 15 points on a try and five conversions (5-for-11).
 
Recognized during halftime of the UVU match was longtime Cal rugby manager Jerry Figone, who was in the bleachers with the crowd on a mostly sunny day in Strawberry Canyon. "It was really good to see coach Figone out in the crowd," Casey said. "Good to have him back."
 
Cal is back on the road for its next two matches, resuming PAC Rugby Conference play at Arizona on Saturday, February 17, at 2 p.m. MT, followed by a visit to Arizona State on Presidents Day, Monday, February 19, for a 2 p.m. MT kickoff.
 
The Bears return to Strawberry Canyon Saturday, February 24, when the "World Cup" series commences at 1 p.m. against British Columbia, followed at 2:30 p.m. by a PAC conference clash vs. USC.
 
The Scoring Timeline vs. Cal Maritime
 
07:00 Thibault d'Auriol 5, Desi Streater 2
 
14:00 Peter Sekona 5, Desi Streater 2
 
19:00 Justin Dunn 5
 
26:00 John Warnock 5
 
30:00 Desi Streater 5
 
Halftime Score: California 29, Cal Maritime 0
 
33:00 Justin Dunn 5
 
37:00 CMA (CJ Ferrigno) 5, (Michael Mukuru) 2
 
39:00 Sam Golla 5, Desi Streater 2
 
42:00 Garrett Kay 5, Desi Streater 2
 
46:00 Justin Dunn 5, Desi Streater 2
 
48:00 CMA (Michael Mukuru) 3
 
52:00 Justin Dunn 5
 
58:00 William Fuller 5
 
Final Score: California 65, Cal Maritime 10
 
The Team vs. Cal Maritime
 
15. H. d'Auriol, 14. Fuller, 13. Damron, 12. Ternan, 11. Dunn, 10. Streater, 9. T. d'Auriol (Goodwin @ 47:00), 1. Sekona, 2. Taotua, 3. Douglas (Duvall @ 30:00), 4. Golla, 5. Jh. Warnock, 6. Kay (Tuua-Burch @ 49:00), 7. Jn. Warnock (Huynh @ 47:00), 8. Richards-Smith (Le Merle @ 30:00)
 
The Scoring Timeline vs. Utah Valley
 
04:00 Zachary Tavenner 5, Jamie Howells 2
 
17:00 Damon Wiley 5
 
27:00 Zachary Tavenner 5, Jamie Howells 2
 
30:00 Sam Cusano 5, Jamie Howells 2
 
33:00 Christian Dyer 5
 
36:00 Kevin Sullivan 5, Jamie Howells 2
 
38:00 Sam Cusano 5
 
40:00 Jamie Howells 5, 2
 
Halftime Score: California 50, Utah Valley 0
 
42:00 Matt Ternan 5, Jamie Howells 2
 
46:00 Utah Valley (Fatai Makavaha)5, (Nephi Ledua) 2
 
52:00 Sam Cusano 5, Jamie Howells 2
 
57:00 Christian Dyer 5, Elliot Webb 2
 
62:00 Ken Kurihara 5, Elliot Webb 2
 
65:00 Elliot Webb 5, 2
 
68:00 Kevin Saunders 5, Elliot Webb 2
 
75:00 Aidan Flynn 5, Elliot Webb 2
 
78:00 Sam Cusano 5, Elliot Webb 2
 
Final Score: California 106, Utah Valley 7
 
The Team vs. Utah Valley
 
15. Flynn, 14. Cusano, 13. Dyer, 12. Saunders, 11. Tavenner, 10. Howells (E. Webb @ 52:00), 9. Andrade (Kurihara @ 52:00), 1. Sullivan (Joyce @ 65:00), 2. Ogburn (Iscaro @ 57:00), 3. Wiley (Baylor @ 46:00), 4. Casey, 5. Bader, 6. Spradling, 7. Mirhashem (Holland @ 62:00), 8. Robles (Heaney @ 42:00)