Like most college rugby teams, the University of California has some specific goals, and while they might not say so publicly, those goals are generally the same four things: Win the World Cup series with UBC, Win the PAC Conference, Win the Varsity Cup tournament, and Win the CRC 7s invitational.

One of those fell by the wayside last week as Cal was thoroughly trounced 50-3 by UBC in Vancouver, and thus getting swept in the two-game series. The first leg of the series was a 20-15 UBC victory in Berkeley, and that result gave everyone the idea that perhaps the World Cup (so named because the series used to be sponsored by the Vancouver World newspaper) was up for grabs.

But no. The Thunderbirds grabbed it and didn’t let go. Cali Martinez scored eight minutes into the game Sunday and UBC never looked back. Tries from Charles Thorpe, Andrew Coe, Cully Quirk, Theo Sander, Connor Hamilton, and Alex Mascotte followed. All Cal managed was a Harry Adolphus penalty kick, and fact, Cal was held tryless in the series.

Head Coach Jack Clark was fully aware that UBC has ramped up its recruiting and its support of the rugby program, and that this year’s team is 16-0, with those victims being most of the top teams in British Columbia (as well as three wins over the Seattle Saracens). Losing 20-15 was a pretty nice result. There was nothing pretty about losing 50-3. 

"Full credit to the Thunderbirds. As the scoreline indicates, they were the better team today by a fair stretch," said Clark. "I know our guys are disappointed, but beating an undefeated team at home was never going to be easy. This said, I think we felt we could have played better and will need to do so to close out the season on a positive note."

A positive note, first off, is winning the PAC Rugby Conference again, and that will happen should Cal beat Utah this weekend. That’s the next goal, and out’s a likely one. Utah has shown some good rugby of late, but they don’t have the depth and power to handle a wounded Bear looking for revenge.

Winning the PAC will basically end Cal’s regular season (Stanford awaits March 30) before the Varsity Cup knockout rounds start April 9. 

But that’s goal #3, and with goal #1 not an option now, it’s time to take care of the PAC.