After a 15-day break, the Cal rugby team returned to the pitch Sunday and defeated the University of British Columbia 38-6, in the Bears’ final road match of the regular season.
“I think we looked at this game as a real test of where we are as a team,” said Cal captain Seamus Kelly, after the match. “And I think we passed that test.”
The Bears (17-0, 4-0 in the PAC Rugby Conference) used a 32-0 run, including two tries from Kelly, to take home their seventh consecutive “World Cup” trophy at Thunderbird Stadium in Vancouver, Canada.
“I think we did play a full 80 minutes today,” said Cal junior Jake Anderson. “It was a full team effort. It was a great team effort.”
The Bears were led individually by Anderson, who accounted for 18 points with his leg — 12 points on penalty kicks, and six points on conversions. “It felt good, I struck the ball well,” he said.
Kelly was complimentary of the play of his teammate. “We joking call him the iceman,” he said. “Because he always makes the important kicks for us.”
Sunday’s match was the second between the North American squads this season. In the first meeting, on Feb. 16, the Bears came away with a 28-18 win.
The first 40 minutes on Sunday were also close, as the two teams traded penalty kicks. Cal’s Jake Anderson converted three, while UBC’s Brock Staller converted two, giving the Bears a 9-6 advantage at halftime.
A converted try by Kelly, six minutes into the second half, gave the Bears a 16-6 lead. Cal then got a try from Jack O’Beirne, a penalty from Anderson, and then tries from Jared Braun and Kelly to round out the scoring.
In the two-match series between Cal and UBC, that began in 1921, the team finishing with the most points scored, wins the “World Cup” trophy. UBC last won the overall season series in 2006.
Sunday’s win extended the Bears’ consecutive win streak over the Thunderbirds to eight matches.