In a thrilling quarterfinal matchup, the California rugby team fell to Saint Mary’s with a final score of 34-16 in the D1A National Collegiate Championship. The Golden Bears put up a strong fight throughout the game, but ultimately could not overcome their opponents.
Cal head coach Jack Clark commended Saint Mary’s for their performance and congratulated them on the hard-earned victory. Despite a promising start by Cal in the first 10 minutes, it was Saint Mary’s who struck first with a try. Cal responded with a penalty kick by Junior O’Connell, narrowing the gap to 5-3.
However, Saint Mary’s continued to increase their lead with another penalty kick and took advantage of a Cal fumble near the tryzone to score another try. Cal’s defense put up a valiant effort, but Saint Mary’s managed to score once more before halftime, leading 20-6.
Saint Mary’s wasted no time extending their lead early in the second period. Cal fought back with two unanswered tries by John Keen and Russell Webb, but it was not enough to catch up to their opponents. The game concluded with a 34-16 victory for Saint Mary’s.
Throughout the game, substitutions were made by both teams in an effort to gain an edge on the field. Fans can stay updated on all things Cal rugby by following the Bears on social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. With an overall record of 11-4, the Golden Bears may have fallen short in this matchup, but they have undoubtedly left their mark on the season.
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