PHOENIX – Playing their third match in three days following the varsity and reserve contests Saturday at Arizona, the Golden Bears ran in 12 tries to defeat Arizona State, 72-5, Sunday at Westside Sports Complex.
 
The Bears (12-0, 3-0 PAC) leaned into strong winds that gusted to 40 miles per hour to deliver a workmanlike performance against the Sun Devils, who fell to 2-3 overall and 1-2 in PAC Rugby Conference against a California starting squad comprised of seven frosh-sophs.
 
Making his first varsity 15s start after working his way back from an injury sustained in the first week of January training camp was freshman outside center Seth Purdey, who said, "The physicality was definitely up there in my first college varsity game. It was great to be back with the boys and awesome playing side by side with Kevin Saunders, being freshmen together."
 
Outside Saunders and Purdey on one wing was senior football crossover Justin Dunn, who finished the match with three tries.
 
"Today's match was a great opportunity," said Dunn. "Everyone out there is pushing each other to be better."
 
No. 8 Cormac Heaney showed a strong appetite for the work Sunday in the gusting winds, and the forward used the collective "we" to comment on his own effort.
 
"We just want to work hard, no matter what," said Heaney. "You've got to put your hand up to get those opportunities."
 
The Bears return to Strawberry Canyon, where they host a home doubleheader Saturday, February 24, at 1 p.m. against British Columbia, followed at 2:30 p.m. by USC.
 
Looking ahead, after a midweek night game at home February 28 vs. Santa Clara, doubleheaders will remain the norm at Witter Rugby Field March 10-11 for Homecoming, when generations of champions are celebrated at the Cal Invitational, a four-team, two-day tournament featuring the Rugby Bears with UCLA, Army and Claremont Colleges.
 
The Scoring Timeline vs. Arizona State
 
03:00 Justin Dunn 5, Matthew Coyle 2
 
09:00 Sebastian Bader 5
 
21:00 Hugo d'Auriol 5, Matthew Coyle 2
 
25:00 Taylor Damron 5
 
31:00 ASU 5
 
40:00 Taylor Damron 5
 
Halftime Score: California 29, Arizona State 5
 
44:00 Hugo d'Auriol 5, Matthew Coyle 2
 
50:00 Matthew Coyle 5
 
54:00 Justin Dunn 5
 
65:00 Justin Dunn 5
 
70:00 Taylor Damron 5, Matthew Coyle 2
 
74:00 Brian Joyce 5, Matthew Coyle 2
 
79:00 Louis Le Merle 5, Matthew Coyle 2
 
Final Score: California 72, Arizona State 5
 
The Team vs. Arizona State
 
15. H. d'Auriol, 14. Dunn, 13. Purdey (E. Webb @ 70:00), 12. Saunders (Goodwin @ 54:00)11. Damron, 10. Coyle, 9. Kurihara (T. d'Auriol @ 50:00), 1. Iscaro (Sekona @ 50:00), 2. Ogburn (Joyce @ 40:00), 3. Baylor (Douglas @ 50:00), 4. Le Merle, 5. Bader (Golla @ 31:00), 6. Kay, 7. Holland, 8. Heaney