GRR on X  GRR on Facebook GRR in Instagram GRR Vimeo Library GRR on YouTube RuggaMatrix America Podcasts Support GRR on Patreon

Cal Wins 4th Straight CRC

irish rugby tours

Cal Wins 4th Straight CRC

Colleen McCloskey photo.

Cal has won its fourth-straight CRC, dominating the final 40 minutes of play at Talen Energy Stadium in Chester, Pa.

The games for Sunday were all moved up a couple of hours to avoid impending thunderstorms, so play started at 8am and Cal played their Cup Quarterfinal at 8:22.

And they didn't start too well, as Arkansas State scored two quick tries to lead 14-0. It could have been worse, as Jake Goena was very lucky not to be yellow-carded for an attempted trip on the  second try. But Goena made a break that set up Anthony Salaber and after that Cal dominated, They scored three more tries to beat Arkansas State 24-14, and then crushed a very handy Arizona team 38-5.

UCLA made their first final, beating Penn State fairly comfortably, (it was 19-12 but UCLA led 19-0), and then just got by Kutztown 14-12. The day was full of close games. Arizona beat Life in the quarterfinals, but needed sudden death overtime. Kutztown needed to come back to beat Dartmouth.

So on to the final, where

Cal scored their first try off a turnover and put Thomas Robles in at the corner. UCLA looked to score with a minute to go in the first half, but Cian Barry was ruled to have made a double-movement to touch it down. The half ended 7-0 Cal. It was a tough call on UCLA as Barry was clearly not held in the tackle, and rolled over before diving to score - it should have been a Bruin try.

In the second half, Cal dominated possession, and Jesse Milne went in. Then a turnover led to Patrick Barrientes scoring. Seb Sharpe replied for UCLA, but Cal scored twice through Salaber to finish it off 31-7.

After giving up two tries in the opening minutes in the quarterfinals, Cal outscored their opponents 93-12.

Wisconsin edged Indiana 10-7 to win the Plate. Army beat Maryland 10-0 to win the Bowl.

 

Order of finish:

Champions: Cal

Runners-Up: UCLA

3rd: Arizona, Kutztown

5th: Life, Arkansas State, Penn State, Dartmouth

9th (Plate): Wisconsin

10th: Indiana

11th: Utah, South Carolina

13th: Temple, Notre Dame, St. Joseph's, Virginia Tech

17th (Bowl): Army

18th: Maryland

19th: Boston College, Clemson

21st: Tennessee, Drexel, Michigan, Navy