SAN LUIS OBISPO – California rugby captured its first win of the 2025 XVs campaign, with a 57-14 road win over Cal Poly Saturday afternoon. The Golden Bears scored nine tries and six conversions, whilst holding the Mustangs to only two converted tries.
 
"We appreciate Cal Poly for hosting us," Cal head coach Jack Clark said. "It was a competitive game, and both teams improve from competitive games. A day trip to the Central Coast is no easy day, so I'm double proud of our boys."
 
Cal Poly struck first in the contest with a converted try four minutes into the match to take an early lead. Cal won the restart and went on the attack, sending the ball through in the hands of Ieremia Ieremia, who made his first appearance for the Bears as the starting No. 8. Rand Santos added the extras to level the score at 7-7.
 
Solomon Williams was next to log a try, scoring off a tap-and-go, sneaking through the Mustangs' defense and into the tryzone. Cal Poly scored next, breaking the Bears' line and putting together a couple of attacking phases to dot down what would be their last converted try of the match.
 
The Bears scored two more tries before the end of the half, first by way of captain Charlie Walsh having a good run downfield and offloading to a trailing Williams, who dotted it down between the posts. Santos scored next, breaking a couple of tackles and speeding past the last Mustang defender to extend Cal's lead. He went 4-of-4 on the extras to make it 28-14 in favor of the Bears at the intermission.
 
Cal took control in the second half, putting five unanswered tries on the scoresheet. The Bears strung together a few strong attacking phases before Max Threlkeld ran a ball in between the posts and Santos converted just three minutes into play.
 
On the next scoring play, Hugo Schreuder won an attacking lineout a few meters out from the goal-line and spun around to dive in for the try and add another for the Bears. Just three minutes later, Cal was back in Mustang territory and Santos chipped the ball forward into the hands of reserve player Quinn Spieker, who touched it down for a score.
 
Filip Edstrom came off the bench to make his Cal debut and added his name to the scoresheet with a try at the 66-minute mark. Mack Fell had the last word with a try to lift the Bears to victory.
 
In the reserve-grade match that followed, the Bears defeated the Mustangs 69-10.
 
Cal returns to Berkeley for its home opener next weekend, when the Bears host a double header against Utah Valley and UC Santa Cruz. Kickoff at Witter Rugby Field against the Wolverines is at 1 p.m. PT with the match against the Banana Slugs to begin at 2:30 p.m.
 
Scoring Timeline:
4:00 – Cal Poly 5, Cal Poly 2
7:00 – Ieremia Ieremia 5, Rand Santos 2
15:00 – Solomon Williams 5, Rand Santos 2
31:00 – Cal Poly 5, Cal Poly 2
34:00 – Solomon Williams 5, Rand Santos 2
38:00 – Rand Santos 5, Rand Santos 2
Half: Cal 28, Cal Poly 14
43:00 – Max Threlkeld 5, Rand Santos 2
52:00 – Hugo Schreuder 5, Rand Santos 2
55:00 – Quinn Spieker 5
66:00 – Filip Edstrom 5
72:00 – Mack Fell 5
Final: Cal 57, Cal Poly 14
 
Starting XV:
1. Oliver Kirk 2. Cade Crist 3. Charlie Walsh 4. Hugo Schreuder 5. Tom Dixon 6. Jon Puckett 7. Bryan Bogne 8. Ieremia Ieremia 9. Solomon Williams 10. Rand Santos 11. Jack Byszio 12. Michál de Beer 13. Max Threlkeld 14. Emmett Cook 15. Oliver Newall
 
 
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