BERKELEY – California rugby opened its 2025 home slate with a pair of victories over Utah Valley and UC Santa Cruz on Saturday afternoon in Strawberry Canyon. The Golden Bears shut out both the Wolverines and the Banana Slugs whilst scoring a combined 38 tries between the two matches.
 
Cal's match against Utah Valley featured a roster of entirely freshmen and sophomores who tallied 20 tries in the contest. Freshman Chris Biller recorded a hat trick while fellow freshman Tom Archer and sophomores Quinn Spieker, Tommy Rainsford and Jackson Launey each contributed a pair.
 
Freshman Filip Edstrom went 9-of-13 on conversion kicks before Launey took over kicking duties and added the extras on 5-of-7 attempts. The final whistle blew with the Bears outscoring the Wolverines 128-0.
 
The second match of the day saw Cal's upperclassmen take the field against UC Santa Cruz. The Bears put up 18 unanswered tries. Fifth years Tom Dixon and Dom Paga and junior Cormac Saint registered two tries apiece.  
 
Junior Rand Santos was good on 4-of-9 conversion attempts in the first half while junior Jack Openshaw went 5-for-9 in the second period. The Bears defeated the Banana Slugs 108-0 in the end.
 
"It was great to open up our first in-season fixture at Witter Rugby Field," Cal captain Charlie Walsh said. "Both Cal teams showed promise. We greatly appreciate both Utah Valley and UC Santa Cruz for their efforts and competitive nature."
 
Cal returns to Witter Rugby Field next weekend for a matchup with Arizona. The Bears and the Wildcats kick off Saturday at 1 p.m. PT in Berkeley, with a reserve-grade match set to follow immediately after the conclusion of the first match. Fans can purchase tickets in advance here.
 
 
Scoring Timelines:
Cal vs. Utah Valley
12:00 – Chris Biller 5, Filip Edstrom 2
15:00 – Oliver Teague 5
20:00 – Masi Koi 5, Filip Edstrom 2
25:00 – Nate Comiskey 5
28:00 – Emmett Cook 5, Filip Edstrom 2
32:00 – Quinn Spieker 5, Filip Edstrom 2
39:00 – Noa Grasse 5, Filip Edstrom 2
Half: Cal 45, UVU 0
41:00 – Tommy Rainsford 5
44:00 – Tom Archer 5, Filip Edstrom 2
47:00 – Broc Daily 5
50:00 – Tommy Rainsford 5, Filip Edstrom 2
57:00 – Quinn Spieker 5, Filip Edstrom 2
60:00 – Oliver Kirk 5, Filip Edstrom 2
65:00 – Jackson Launey 5, Jackson Launey 2
67:00 – Jack Byszio 5, Jackson Launey 2
69:00 – Chris Biller 5, Jackson Launey 2
72:00 – Chris Biller 5
74:00 – Tomás Tort 5, Jackson Launey 2
76:00 – Jackson Launey 5, Jackson Launey 2
80:00 – Tom Archer 5
Final: Cal 128, UVU 0
 
Starting XV:
1. Oliver Kirk 2. Broc Daily 3. Tom Archer 4. Seamus Deely 5. Kimani Laumoli 6. Bryan Bogne 7. Oliver Teague 8. Elias Smith 9. Noa Grasse 10. Masi Koi 11. Quinn Spieker 12. Chris Biller 13. Filip Edstrom 14. Nate Comiskey 15. Emmett Cook
 
Cal vs. UC Santa Cruz
8:00 – Dom Paga 5
12:00 – Jon Puckett 5
15:00 – Tom Dixon 5
17:00 – Byron Finley 5, Rand Santos 2
25:00 – Rand Santos 5, Rand Santos 2
28:00 – David Hause 5
31:00 – Charlie Walsh 5, Rand Santos 2
35:00 – Ieremia Ieremia 5, Rand Santos 2
40:00 – Max Threlkeld 5
Half: Cal 53, UCSC 0
42:00 – Cormac Saint 5, Jack Openshaw 2
43:00 – Tom Dixon 5, Jack Openshaw 2
50:00 – Bryan Bogne 5
56:00 – Dom Paga 5, Jack Openshaw 2
59:00 – Filip Edstrom 5, Jack Openshaw 2
65:00 – Cormac Saint 5
69:00 – Tyler Lenk 5
74:00 – Jack Openshaw 5, Jack Openshaw 2
77:00 – Filip Edstrom 5
Final: Cal 108, UCSC 0
 
Starting XV:
1. Tom Dixon 2. Cade Crist 3. Charlie Walsh 4. Hugo Schreuder 5. Byron Finley 6. Dom Paga 7. Jon Puckett 8. Ieremia Ieremia 9. Solomon Williams 10. Rand Santos 11. David Hause 12. Cormac Saint 13. Max Threlkeld 14. Joe Kirsten 15. Oliver Newall
 
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