BERKELEY - The California rugby team defeated San Diego 88-5 Saturday in the 2026 D1A National Collegiate Championships first round matchup. The Bears played well despite giving key starters the day off. Cal scored 14 tries from 10 different players led by Nate Comiskey and Emmett Cook who each had a hat trick with three tries each.
 
San Diego challenged the Bears in the first few minutes, with neither team gaining an edge. Cal scored their first try in the 10th minute as sophomore Tom Archer broke through the goal line with an assist from freshman William Schreckengaust.
 
Excellent passing from the Bears helped them work the ball to the outside in the 15th minute as Cormac Saint found Michál de Beer, who passed to Max Threlkeld, who found junior Nate Comiskey for his first try of the match.
 
A try from Threlkeld extended the Bears lead in the 21st minute, and Saint nailed the conversion to put the Bears up 17-0. The Bears scored a highlight reel try in the 24th minute as a deep run from Oliver Newall advanced the ball into San Diego territory. Newall kicked a foot pass to Threlkeld, who passed the ball over his head as he was being tackled to Seamus Deely. Deely ran ahead for the Bears try.
 
The Bears scored three more times before the end of the half, extending their lead to 45-0 at the break.
 
At halftime, the Bears subbed off starters Cade Crist, Oliver Newall and Brice Muller bringing on sophomore Broc Daily and freshman Julian Bishop, as well as junior Brady Weingart.
 
The Bears didn't let up, scoring one minute into the second half after recovering the opening kickoff and using excellent ball movement through five straight passes as Bishop found Cook for his second try of the game.
 
The Bears scored six more tries in the second half, leaning on their reserves, finding gaps in the San Diego defense. A late San Diego try ended the clean sheet, but a try with three minutes left from Peter Symington, who came on for Threlkeld, gave the Bears the 88-5 victory.
 
After the match, game-day captain Cade Crist shared his thoughts on the victory.
 
"We have guys who haven't had a lot of experience in big games that had to step up and fill some shoes," Crist said. "I think they did a really good job, and I'm proud of them."
 
"It wasn't perfect, but I'm proud of our effort," senior vice captain Threlkeld added. "We played a full 80 minutes and got the job done.
 
Scoring Timeline:
Cal vs. San Diego
10:00 – Tom Archer, 5
15:00 – Nate Comiskey, 5
21:00 – Max Threlkeld, 5, Cormac Saint, 2
25:00 – Seamus Deely, 5, Cormac Saint, 2
29:00 – Talae Tuimaunei, 5, Cormac Saint, 2
31:00 – Emmett Cook, 5, Cormac Saint, 2
34:00 – Nate Comiskey, 5, Cormac Saint, 2
Half: Cal, 45, San Diego, 0
41:00 – Emmett Cook, 5
54:00 – Cormac Saint, 5, Cormac Saint, 2
57:00 – Emmett Cook, 5
61:00 – Nate Comiskey, 5
65:00 – Michál de Beer, 5, Cormac Saint, 2
69:00 – Elliott Lewis, 5, Cormac Saint, 2
72:00 – San Diego, 5
77:00 – Peter Symington, 5, Cormac Saint, 2
Final: Cal, 88, San Diego, 5
 
Starting XV:
1. Tom Archer (Dylan Thygesen 62') 2. Cade Crist (Broc Daily 45') 3. William Schreckengaust 4. Seamus Deely (Kimani Laumoli 51') 5. Talae Tuimaunei 6. Brice Muller (Brady Weingart 45') 7. Elliott Lewis 8. Elias Smith 9. Cormac Saint 10. Oliver Sinclair (James Curtis 65') 11. Nate Comiskey 12. Michál de Beer 13. Max Threlkeld (Peter Symington 51') 14. Emmett Cook 15. Oliver Newall (Julian Bishop 45')