PHOENIX, Ariz. – California rugby outscored Grand Canyon 74-7 to claim its second road victory of the President's Day long weekend. Joe Kirsten had a hat trick while Evan Weigold contributed a pair of tries to help lift the Golden Bears to a win.
 
Cal made a number of changes to its starting lineup with eight new faces joining the Bears' first 15 as part of Cal's continuous effort to give as many student-athletes competition time throughout the season.
 
"We're thankful to the Grand Canyon team for hosting us and wish them the best going forward," Cal head coach Jack Clark said. "We appreciate our boys for their efforts this weekend. I always try and remind myself that our players are heading off to an ultra-competitive academic morning after trying their guts out all weekend on the rugby field."
 
The Bears were on the attack for the majority of the game and got points on the board within the first two minutes of the contest. Weigold dotted down in the left corner first to give Cal a lead it would never relinquish.
 
Some turnovers and penalties put a halt to the scoring for eight-straight minutes until co-captain Alex Aguero chipped a loose ball and recovered it before sending it between the posts in the arms of Michál de Beer. Co-captain Will Shankland added the extras.
 
Aguero collected a try of his own next, spotting a gap in the Lopes' defense and managing a hard carry into the tryzone at minute 24. It only took four minutes for Weigold to tap down his second try of the day and extend the Bears' advantage.
 
On the next possession, Cal worked its way down to GCU territory and swung the ball out to Kirsten on the right wing, who stepped past a couple of defenders past the goal-line.
 
GCU took possession after the restart and worked its way into Bear territory to set up an attacking lineout on the goal-line. The Lopes mauled in a score and converted it successfully to put their seven points on the board.
 
The Bears answered quickly and strung together a few attacking phases after the restart to put the ball in the arms of Mack Fell, who picked-and-jammed his way in at minute 39. Shankland's three conversions gave the Bears a 38-7 lead at the intermission.
 
Cal continued to dominate possession in the second half and held the Lopes scoreless for the final 40 minutes. Kirsten had a run down the right sideline to dot down his second try of the day in the right corner.
 
Five minutes later, Tyler Lenk spotted a gap and outran six defenders to carry a ball in right between the posts for a try. Kirsten followed suit and stepped past a few Lopes to dot down his third try of the day at minute 59. De Beer was successful on the conversion attempt.
 
Cormac Saint came off the bench and made an impact, scoring a try and taking over kicking duties for the remainder of the match. Kirsten had a good run into GCU territory and offloaded to Saint who touched it down between the posts.
 
The forwards went to work on the next possession and grinded out a few phases on the goal-line before sending the ball across in the arms of Josh Mao. Oliver Newall capped off the Bears' scoring with a try at minute 73. GCU created some opportunity and forced the Bears to be on the defense for the final few minutes, but the 80 minutes expired with Cal taking the win.
 
UP NEXT
Cal continues its road swing next week with the team set to make the trip to Salt Lake City to take on Utah. The Bears and the Utes will face off under the lights on Friday evening.
 
Scoring Timeline:
Cal vs Grand Canyon
2:00 – Evan Weigold 5
10:00 – Michál de Beer 5, Will Shankland 2
24:00 – Alex Aguero 5
28:00 – Evan Weigold 5
33:00 – Joe Kirsten 5, Will Shankland 2
36:00 – GCU 5, GCU 2
39:00 – Mack Fell 5, Will Shankland 2
Half: 38-7
50:00 – Joe Kirsten 5
55:00 – Tyler Lenk 5
59:00 – Joe Kirsten 5, Michál de Beer 2
67:00 – Cormac Saint 5, Cormac Saint 2
70:00 – Josh Mao 5
73:00 – Oliver Newall 5, Cormac Saint 2
Final: Cal 74, GCU 7
 
Starting XV:
1. Emilio Shea 2. Matt Vranesh 3. Bryan Bogne 4. Miles Malone 5. Pat Deely 6. Dom Paga 7. Tyler Lenk 8. Alex Aguero 9. Caleb Tomasin 10. Will Shankland 11. Evan Weigold 12. Mack Fell 13. Michál de Beer 14. Joe Kirsten 15. Oliver Newall
 
Substitutions:
Brett Dowgiewicz (Half), Lance Hackett (Half), Roan O'Connell (47:00), Talae Tuimaunei (60:00), Josh Mao (65:00), Cormac Saint (65:00), Michael Puckett (65:00), Nate Comiskey (70:00)

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