BERKELEY – California rugby edged Saint Mary’s, 48-45, at a sold-out Witter Rugby Field on Saturday afternoon to clinch a victory in its final contest of the regular season. In a thrilling back-and-forth affair that featured nine lead changes throughout the contest, the Golden Bears scored eight tries, including a hat trick by junior Max Threlkeld.
“It was a good match, which is a credit to both teams,” Cal head coach Jack Clark said. “I’m proud of our team for battling and I’m grateful for our captain Charlie Walsh. Charlie keeps his team together and in the fight. We are fortunate to have his leadership.”
The Bears struck first in the match with junior Rand Santos running in a ball from the right corner to touch down the first score of the afternoon. The Gaels then scored three tries in a row, the first two off attacking lineouts that they recovered and punched in, and the third from out the back of an attacking scrum.
Cal answered with three tries of its own to take back the lead. First, the Bears set up an attacking lineout which they recovered in the air before moving the ball through a couple of phases and into junior Cade Crist’s arms to muscle in a score.
Senior captain Walsh set up the Bears’ next two scoring possessions, first intercepting a pass and offloading it to junior Solomon Williams. Williams then chipped it forward and freshman Masi Koi chased the ball down from the left wing, winning a foot race and tapping it down for a try.
After the restart, the Bears got possession and strung together multiple phases before Santos kicked a high ball forward to extend the play. Walsh chased it down and caught it from over his back shoulder perfectly before sending it out to the backs for Threlkeld to dot down in the tryzone. Santos converted the score successfully. The Gaels managed to score one more try before the end of the half to level it at 24 points apiece at the intermission.
After the break, the Bears were first to score with Threlkeld running in a try just seven minutes into the second period to retake the lead. Cal stayed on the attack and regained possession after the kickoff. Threlkeld and senior Joe Kirsten moved the ball through their hands down the length of the pitch with Kirsten getting stopped just shy of the goal-line. Williams snatched the ball from a ruck and snuck between the Gael defenders to punch in another Cal try.
The Bears held up the Gaels on the try-line in the next possession, but the Gaels moved quickly off the ensuing goal-line dropout to score a try. Saint Mary’s added another try to the scoresheet six minutes later to get a three-point lead back.
Only four minutes passed before Cal retook the advantage, this time moving the ball through hands in open space and sending it into the tryzone in the arms of freshman reserve Filip Edstrom, who then also added the extras.
The Gaels scored once more off an attacking lineout, catching it in the air and pushing it straight into the tryzone before converting to gain a four-point advantage.
Seven minutes passed with Cal on the attack, working its way into scoring position. The forwards grinded out several phases on the goal-line before Williams spotted an open space and chipped the ball forward from the back of the ruck for Threlkeld to touch down in the tryzone. Edstrom added the extras to give the advantage back to the Bears with four minutes left of play.
The Gaels threatened, working their way within Cal’s 22-meter line, but the Bears’ defense held their line and earned a turnover. Cal regained possession and outlasted Saint Mary’s in the final minute to clinch the win.
In the reserve-grade contest that followed, Cal defeated Saint Mary’s, 47-19.
Cal will now await its postseason fate, with D1A national collegiate championship postseason seeding expected to be announced next week. The first round of the playoffs is slated to begin on April 5.
Scoring Timeline:
Cal vs. Saint Mary’s
6:00 – Rand Santos 5
12:00 – Saint Mary’s 5, Saint Mary’s 2
17:00 – Saint Mary’s 5, Saint Mary’s 2
19:00 – Saint Mary’s 5
25:00 – Cade Crist 5, Rand Santos 2
31:00 – Masi Koi 5
36:00 – Max Threlkeld 5, Rand Santos 2
38:00 – Saint Mary’s 5
Half: Cal 24, Saint Mary’s 24
47:00 – Max Threlkeld 5
49:00 – Solomon Williams 5
55:00 – Saint Mary’s 5, Saint Mary’s 2
61:00 – Saint Mary’s 5, Saint Mary’s 2
65:00 – Filip Edstrom 5, Filip Edstrom 2
69:00 – Saint Mary’s 5, Saint Mary’s 2
76:00 – Max Threlkeld 5, Filip Edstrom 2
Final: Cal 48, Saint Mary’s 45
Starting XV:
1. Oliver Kirk 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. Rand Santos 11. Masi Koi 12. Mack Fell 13. Max Threlkeld 14. Joe Kirsten 15. Emmett Cook
Substitutions:
Dom Paga (16:00), Byron Finley (26:00), Filip Edstrom (56:00), Jack Byszio (56:00), Oliver Teague (61:00), Brady Weingart (79:00)
