Cal Recap 2019

WILDCATS FALL TO GOLDEN BEARS IN BERKELEY

#2 Cal 55

#10 Arizona 13

Matt Rogers and the Wildcats will regroup heading in to their final regular season match next weekend in Utah. (Photo credit: Alex Ho)

March 26- Arizona traveled to Berkeley on Saturday for a showdown and the conference title in a matchup of top ten sides at Witter Rugby Field. Despite an early Cal try off of an Arizona handling error, the Wildcats exerted pressure on the Golden Bears, notching two Robert Figley penalties to lead 6-5 in the 20th minute. A 10-6 Cal lead going in to the final bit of the first half was lengthened by a late try, with a yellow card setting up a try to make it 15-6 going in to the break.

The second half started with Cal able to play a one-man advantage, notching four tries during that stretch to put the Wildcats in a hole they were unable to dig out of. A late Lucas Bartzis try would be too little too late for Arizona, as they move in to second in the conference heading in to next week's regular season finale vs Utah. "Credit to Cal, they really socked us during that yellow card" said Head Coach Sean Duffy. "We thankfully have worked ourselves in to a good spot where we can take the lessons from this, regroup, and hopefully see Cal again. Thrilled to have so many young guys getting a run and playing well in that environment and we'll pay major dividends from that in future."

Arizona will close out the regular season in Salt Lake City on Saturday, taking on Utah before finding out their playoff fate for next month's national championships.

Scoring vs Cal

L 55-13

Tries: Bartzis

Conv: Figley- 1/1

Pen: Figley- 2/2

Arizona First XV vs Cal

1. Braeden Looper

2. Zach Biggs

3. Theo Smith

4. Billy Esposito

5. Bronson Teles (VC)

6. Sinclair Clinton