January 23, 1999
BERKELEY, Calif. - It was an unhappy Cal Varsity rugby team
that beat St. Mary's 41-24 in the season opener Saturday.
Some strong individual performances secured the Bears' win, but, as a
whole, the team lacked cohesion. The backs, in particular, struggled in
attack, and defensive lapses late in the game gifted St. Mary's two tries.
"Disappointment was the feeling among the players," head coach Jack Clark
said after the match. "We expected to make mistakes going into this, the
first match of the season, but there were no excuses for some of our
lapses. At times we lacked commitment and discipline which should not
happen whether it is the first or last match of the season."
Cal lock Sam Enochian scored the team's first points of the year with a try
in the third minute, set up by a drive off the base of the scrum by No. 8
Shaun Paga. He also set up Cal's second score by wing Tel Cory-Sadler with
a 20m charge. On one of the rare occasions that the backs fired, center
Ryan Fried added the Bears' third try with a slicing through the defense.
Paga was rewarded with a try of his own late in the first period making the
Cal lead 24-3 at the break. It was a more even contest in the last 40
minutes with each side scoring three tries. The Cal points came from wings
Andy Tamayo and Eric Anderson, and hooker Kirk Khasigian.
Cal also won the second team match, scoring 32 points while holding St.
Mary's to no score.
1st Half 2nd Half Final
Cal 24 17 41
St. Mary's 3 21 24
Scoring First Half: Sam Enochian, try (5), 3rd min.; Tel Cory-Sadler,
try, 12th min.; St. Mary's, penalty kick (3), 20th min.; Ryan Fried, try,
Andy Tamayo conversion (2), 28th min.; Shaun Paga, try, Tamayo, conv., 30th
min.
Second Half: Tamayo, try & conv., 3rd min.; Eric Anderson, try, 8th
min.; St. Mary's, try & conv., 13th min.; St. Mary's, try & conv., 18th
min.; Kirk Khasigian, try, 20th min.; St. Mary's, try & conv., 28th min.;
St. Mary's, try & conv., injury time.
Cal Record: 1-0-0
