BERKELEY – Cal rugby rolled past Grand Canyon 69-7 on a rainy day in Strawberry Canyon. The Bears scored 11 tries by seven different players, including a hat trick from junior lock Tom Dixon.
 
"We appreciate what GCU brought to this match," Cal head coach Jack Clark said. "I think both teams will grow from this contest."
 
The forwards dominated the scoresheet for the Bears in the first half with Michael Puckett crossing the line for his first of two tries in the third minute. Dixon logged his first try in minute nine, and Max Schumacher converted both to extend the Bears' lead to 14-0.
 
Grand Canyon pushed a score in from a maul in the 14th minute and added the extras to capture the Lopes' only points of the day.
 
Dixon scored off a goal-line pick in minute 28 and Schumacher converted his third of the match. Puckett added his second try of the day ten minutes later to give the Bears a 26-7 lead at the break.
 
Cal controlled the game in the second half and added seven tries to the scoreline whilst allowing no points to be scored against them by the Lopes.
 
"In the second half we started to move the ball through hands without as many unforced errors," senior Luke Freeman said.
 
Freshman Max Threlkeld came off the bench to play the wing at the start of the second half, a change from his previous appearances as a center for the Bears.
 
"I thought we made some good adjustments in the second half," Threlkeld said. "It felt great to play out in Strawberry Canyon – it already feels like home. I've been so welcomed in by the boys and the coaches."
 
Nathan Zylstra scored off a forward pick just six minutes into the second period and his co-captain Schumacher ran a score in at the 52-minute mark. Only three minutes passed before freshman Rand Santos had a nice run to contribute a try to the scoresheet.
 
Another forward pick led to a score by Emilio Shea in the 68th minute and Schumacher converted. Max Clark ran a ball in at minute 72 and just three minutes later, Dixon added his third score of the day. Clark put another try on the scoresheet at minute 78 and Schumacher added the extras on the final three scores to make it 69-7 at full time.
 
The Bears continue their home stand next Saturday with a match against UCLA and a parents' weekend celebration. Kickoff at Witter Rugby Field will be at 1 p.m. PT.
 
Scoring Timeline:
Cal vs GCU
3:00 – M. Puckett 5, Schumacher 2
9:00 – Dixon 5, Schumacher 2
14:00 – GCU 5, GCU 2
28:00 – Dixon 5, Schumacher 2
38:00 – M. Puckett 5
Half: Cal 26, GCU 7
46:00 – Zylstra 5
52:00 – Schumacher 5
55:00 – Santos 5
68:00 – Shea 5, Schumacher 2
72:00 – Clark 5, Schumacher 2
75:00 – Dixon 5, Schumacher 2
78:00 – Clark 5, Schumacher 2
Final: Cal 69, GCU 7
 
Starting XV:
1. Emilio Shea 2. Matt Vranesh 3. Michael Puckett 4. Mats Dodd 5. Tom Dixon 6. Luke Freeman 7. Nathan Zylstra 8. Alex Aguero 9. Caleb Tomasin 10. Nate Salter 11. Max Clark 12. Rand Santos 13. Will Shankland 14. Alex Brundage 15. Max Schumacher
 
Substitutions:
Half – Max Threlkeld
46:00 – Kealan O'Connell
50:00 – Ryan Marshall
60:00 – Clayton Seastrand
62:00 – Mack Fell
70:00 – Cade Crist, Cormac Saint
 
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