Ruggers' Reserves Hit Century Mark Against Tennessee

One down, three to go.

With Friday's double-take-inducing 102-3 victory over Tennessee in the first round of the playoffs, the top-seeded Cal rugby team advanced to the Round of 8.

The Bears' pursuit of a fifth consecutive national championship continues Saturday at 3:30 p.m., when they face eighth-seeded Cal Poly at Balloon Fiesta Park in Albuquerque, N.M.

Cal (21-1) poured on 16 tries against the 16th-seeded Volunteers (10-3-1), whose only points came during the first half on a difficult penalty kick from about 50-meters out.

"I put out a reserve team, so I thought we could win the game with a reserve team," coach Jack Clark said. "We were able to bang in tries one after another. We were firing on all cylinders. That's about as well as our reserve group can play."

It was the first time this year that the Bears cracked the century mark. The closest Cal came to 100 points was in its first match of the season, when the team put up 99 points against Humboldt State on Jan. 16. The squad hadn't reached triple digits since 2005, when it blanked Arizona State 121-0 at Witter Rugby Field.

It was also a dominating and well-balanced effort from the Bears, with five players notching more than one try.

Freshman wing Connor Ring and senior flanker Kyle Balough touched down twice in the first 40 minutes, spearheading the team's 57-3 halftime advantage.

Senior scrumhalf Lucas Yancey also crossed the try line on two occasions, and Lucas Watson scored the last two tries of the match.

Sophomore flyhalf Sean Gallinger complemented a two-try outing by connecting on five of seven conversion attempts. Sophomore Nathaniel Floyd, who replaced Gallinger late in the first half, finished 6-for-9 on conversions.

Colin Hawley, whose father Loren passed away earlier this month, was also relieved towards the end of the first half. The junior center, along with Balough and Gallinger, will start again Saturday against the Mustangs, who advanced after defeating ninth-seeded Army in the Round of 16.

Many of the Cal starters rested Friday.

"We're as well positioned as we could be," Clark said.

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