ANNAPOLIS, Md. – California rugby fell to Navy, 27-3, Saturday afternoon in Annapolis, Maryland. The Golden Bears shut out the Midshipmen in the first half, leading the contest 3-0 at the break, but Navy came back in the second period to eventually hand Cal its first loss of the 2024-25 campaign. The Bears will be disappointed to have worked their way to the Navy tryline on several occasions, only to finish the match without a try.

"We very much appreciate Navy hosting us and wish them the best going forward," Cal head coach Jack Clark said. 
 
Cal worked its way into Navy territory early in the first half. The Bears were awarded a penalty in the seventh minute and opted to take points off senior fullback Kealan O'Connell's boot. O'Connell, who made his first start today after being out with an injury for five weeks, sailed it through the uprights to give Cal a 3-0 advantage.
 
It was a back-and-forth affair for the remainder of the half and Cal's defense played well to keep Navy from crossing the tryline. The Mids worked their way towards the goal-line and attempted to pick-and-jam the ball in, but Cal held them up and started moving them backwards.
 
Freshman flyhalf Masi Koi, who got the call-up to the first-15 in the absence of Rand Santos, intercepted a pass and carried well to get the Bears back on the attack. As the half was expiring, Cal stayed on it and was awarded another penalty kick opportunity. O'Connell's right boot was just shy of the posts from his attempt on the far right side and the intermission began with the score still at 3-0 in favor of the Bears.
 
The second half was a defensive battle, with Cal's front row grinding in the trenches of the scrum and freshman Seamus Deely and senior Hugo Schreuder bolstering from the second row. The Mids finally put points on the board with a penalty kick to level the score at minute 48. Navy scored its first try of the day off its set piece, collecting its attacking lineout and sending it out to a center who managed a gap to carry it all the way in for a score.
 
Cal was in control after the restart and pushed within the Mids' 22, but some penalties against the Bears denied them a score. Navy kicked it into Bear territory, and, after a couple of phases, a loose ball bounced towards the tryzone. Freshman replacement prop Oliver Kirk wrestled a Navy back for the ball, but the Mid tapped it down to extend their lead.
 
Cal was relentless and threatened in Midshipmen territory a few more times but was unable to capitalize on its position. Navy then put a penalty kick on the board at minute 73, before scoring its final try as the clock expired to clinch the victory.
 
Cal returns to Berkeley for a bye week before getting back out on the road to Provo, Utah to face BYU on March 8.
 
Scoring Timeline:
Cal at Navy
7:00 – Kealan O'Connell 3
Half: Cal 3, Navy 0
48:00 – Navy 3
55:00 – Navy 5, Navy 2
67:00 – Navy 5, Navy 2
73:00 – Navy 3
80:00 – Navy 5, Navy 2
Final: Cal 3, Navy 27
 
Starting XV:
1. Tom Dixon 2. Cade Crist 3. Charlie Walsh 4. Hugo Schreuder 5. Seamus Deely 6. Jon Puckett 7. Bryan Bogne 8. Ieremia Ieremia 9. Solomon Williams 10. Masi Koi 11. Jack Byszio 12. Michal de Beer 13. Max Threlkeld 14. Joe Kirsten 15. Kealan O'Connell
 
Substitutions:
Emmett Cook (Half), Oliver Teague (60:00), Oliver Kirk (62:00), Talan Jones (66:00), Cormac Saint (69:00), Mack Fell (69:00)
 
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