APTOS – The California rugby team had three players convert multiple tries as the Golden Bears opened up the XVs season with a 99-0 victory over UC Santa Cruz at Cabrillo College on Thursday evening.

Sophomores Max Paga, Chris Biller and Tom Archer each registered a pair of tries and 12 players scored overall as Cal cruised to the win.

After freshman Flynn O'Connell opened the scoring with a try four minutes into the contest, Paga strung two tries together and Biller notched two of the next three to help the Bears build a 47-0 halftime lead.

Archer converted both of his tries in the second half, when the scoring came in bunches for the Bears. On three different occasions, Cal scored tries within three minutes of each other or less.

"We are appreciative of Santa Cruz for hosting the match and making us work for everything we got," Cal head coach Jack Clark said. "I'm happy our boys got a match and I know they were really happy to play."

Freshman John Warren notched 12 conversions for the Bears, who will resume the XVs season in early January.
 
Scoring Timeline:
Cal vs. UC Santa Cruz
4:00 – Flynn O'Connell 5, John Warren 2
7:00 – Max Paga 5, John Warren 2
11:00 – Max Paga 5, John Warren 2
16:00 – Chris Biller 5, John Warren 2
24:00 – Noa Grasse , John Warren 2
30:00 – Chris Biller 5,
40:00 – Oliver Bamford 5, John Warren 2
Half: Cal 47, UC Santa Cruz 0
48:00 – Jasper Buttles 5, John Warren 2
50:00 – Tom Archer 5
56:00 – Jude Sheppard 5, John Warren 2
61:00 – Elliott Lewis 5, John Warren 2
63:00 – Tom Archer 5, John Warren 2
67:00 – Tomas Tort 5
70:00 – William Schreckengaust 5, John Warren 2
76:00 – Julian Bishop 5, John Warren 2
Final: Cal 99, UC Santa Cruz 0
 
Starting XV:
1. Oliver Kirk 2. Broc Daily 3. Kimani Laumoli 4. Seamus Deely 5. Arthur Braxton 6. Elias Smith 7. Flynn O'Connell 8. Oliver Teague 9. Noa Grasse 10. Masi Koi 11. Max Paga 12. Chris Biller 13. John Warren 14. Gur Levy 15. Oliver Bamford
 
Substitutions:
Tom Archer, Tommy Ashton, Julian Bishop, Elliott Lewis, William Schreckengaust, Talae Tuimaunei, Alex, Vieira, Sam Violett.
 
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