The Cal Rugby team was trounced yesterday by St. Marys 34-16.
It wasn't for lack of effort. Cal played hard. And so did the Gaels. But the Gaels are just really impressive in open play, and there was one truly spectacular play the Gaels did late in the match that, when I saw it I said to myself "this is over". Gaels were attempting a clearing kick from deep inside their territory. The kick was blocked by a Cal player and the ball was in the air when a Gael alertly picked it out of the air, had a nice break, and through a series of runs/offloads, St. Marys ran the ball past the last few Cal defenders and scored the try which I think sealed the deal for St. Marys. It was one of the best plays I have seen in collegiate rugby and was testimony to how the Gaels are so dangerous when things break down. Cal is very structured, whereas St. Marys thrives on open play, and the Gaels used that character at the most opportune times yesterday.
Cal just couldn't get any consistency offensively. They certainly had their chances and managed to drive very close to the St. Marys try line on a few occasions. But the Gael defense was stiff. And again, it seemed to me (and I'd be interested in someone else's perspective) that Cal just killed itself with penalties, again! Maybe I'm hypersensitive and just don't notice the penalties against opponents as closely as I should. But it seemed to me that Cal would finally seem to get some traction and would have a whistle blown against them at very bad times.
Cal played some really effective defense, especially near their try zone. But the Gaels were relentless when they got near the Cal try zone, and as well as the Bears played, they just couldn't hold St. Marys out forever.
This is the first time I can remember (at least recently) where the Bears lose 4 matches and the Gaels defeat them twice in one year. It's not that Cal is degrading. It is simply that, as I have posted before, more and more programs are improving. High School rugby is gaining rapidly, especially in the Bay Area and on the East Coast. Cal is exporting players who are becoming coaches elsewhere (Tim O'Brien at St. Marys is a good example), and they're building solid programs that started with their influences at Strawberry Canyon. And the number of coaches from overseas, along with players from overseas is improving the game here in the states measurably. And as more and more high school players exit from football to rugby, they are bringing a physicality that is making even smaller schools more and more of a force to be reckoned with.
So now St. Marys will play BYU in Moraga next weekend. If the Gaels can handle the Cougars lineouts, they've got a real shot at facing the East champion (who I THINK will be Navy, who trounced Arkansas State convincingly).
Tough year. But there are young players who have looked impressive in competition, and the Bears are never to be dismissed in the future.
It wasn't for lack of effort. Cal played hard. And so did the Gaels. But the Gaels are just really impressive in open play, and there was one truly spectacular play the Gaels did late in the match that, when I saw it I said to myself "this is over". Gaels were attempting a clearing kick from deep inside their territory. The kick was blocked by a Cal player and the ball was in the air when a Gael alertly picked it out of the air, had a nice break, and through a series of runs/offloads, St. Marys ran the ball past the last few Cal defenders and scored the try which I think sealed the deal for St. Marys. It was one of the best plays I have seen in collegiate rugby and was testimony to how the Gaels are so dangerous when things break down. Cal is very structured, whereas St. Marys thrives on open play, and the Gaels used that character at the most opportune times yesterday.
Cal just couldn't get any consistency offensively. They certainly had their chances and managed to drive very close to the St. Marys try line on a few occasions. But the Gael defense was stiff. And again, it seemed to me (and I'd be interested in someone else's perspective) that Cal just killed itself with penalties, again! Maybe I'm hypersensitive and just don't notice the penalties against opponents as closely as I should. But it seemed to me that Cal would finally seem to get some traction and would have a whistle blown against them at very bad times.
Cal played some really effective defense, especially near their try zone. But the Gaels were relentless when they got near the Cal try zone, and as well as the Bears played, they just couldn't hold St. Marys out forever.
This is the first time I can remember (at least recently) where the Bears lose 4 matches and the Gaels defeat them twice in one year. It's not that Cal is degrading. It is simply that, as I have posted before, more and more programs are improving. High School rugby is gaining rapidly, especially in the Bay Area and on the East Coast. Cal is exporting players who are becoming coaches elsewhere (Tim O'Brien at St. Marys is a good example), and they're building solid programs that started with their influences at Strawberry Canyon. And the number of coaches from overseas, along with players from overseas is improving the game here in the states measurably. And as more and more high school players exit from football to rugby, they are bringing a physicality that is making even smaller schools more and more of a force to be reckoned with.
So now St. Marys will play BYU in Moraga next weekend. If the Gaels can handle the Cougars lineouts, they've got a real shot at facing the East champion (who I THINK will be Navy, who trounced Arkansas State convincingly).
Tough year. But there are young players who have looked impressive in competition, and the Bears are never to be dismissed in the future.