The University of California won their ninth PAC Rugby 7s, defeating Arizona in the final Sunday at Stanford University.
The PAC 7s ran two days, with Pool Play on Day One and the semifinals and finals on Sunday.
Cal rolled through Pool Play fairly convincingly, beating Stanford 58-0, Utah 39-0, and Oregon 38-7. Caleb Tomasin and Joe Kirsten led the Bears with five tries each on the first day. Kealan O'Connell kicked seven conversions to go along with his lone try.
Arizona meanwhile, got through their pool play but not smoothly. After beating Oregon State 38-14 the Wildcats were held to a 22-22 tie by Southern California. But the young Arizona side rebounded to win the key game at the end of the day, holding off UCLA 19-12.
That mean that Cal would play UCLA in the semis, and there O'Connell scored within the first minute and Alex Brundage added another soon thereafter. Luke Freeman's try made it a 15-0 lead at the break. O'Connell, Rand Santos, and recent Thunder Rugby standout Solomon Williams rounded out the second-half scoring in a 32-0 shutout of the Bruins.
Arizona defeated Stanford 26-10 in their semi. But the semis had a cost as some players pulled up injured. Captain Maxime Cathala was instrumental in getting the less experienced players on-task and through that semi.
