March 31, 2016
Cal Seizes Axe In Win Over Standford
Photo: Peter Fukumae
Cal Athletics Press Release: March 30, 2016
STANFORD, Calif. – California and Stanford met Wednesday night to play for the Scrum Axe in Steuber Rugby Stadium, where a Golden Bears side comprised of nine freshman and sophomore starters were joined by eight more frosh-sophs off the bench in a 19-try victory over the Cardinal.
The Bears (14-2, 5-0 PAC) got 11 of their tries from frosh-sophs, four from freshman starting scrumhalf Fawzi Kawash alone, with hat tricks recorded by Billy Maggs and William Fuller in the scoring column.
“The older guys have been so great to learn from and I was very excited to be out there playing with my fellow frosh-sophs,” said Kawash.
Stanford (4-6-1) scored in the 50th minute when prop Barrett Madvec took it across the line in the right corner.
Sophomore flyhalf Matthew Coyle registered 25 points on 10 conversions (10-for-14) and a try for the Bears before he was relieved by Jamie Howell (3-for-5).
The Rugby Bears exited the evening with their roster unscathed and a positive performance to take into their postseason preparation.
“It’s awesome to get your name called to put on the blue and gold, and I think a lot of young guys put forth a good effort tonight,” added freshman prop Jack Iscaro.
The Bears now begin to transition into postseason mode with one more regular-season match remaining on the schedule as the first round of the Penn Mutual Varsity Cup Rugby Championship national postseason kicks off April 9 on Witter Rugby Field, where Cal faces Texas at noon, followed by a non-postseason match against Santa Clara to be played by Cal’s frosh-sophs.
If Cal beats the Longhorns to advance to the Varsity Cup quarterfinals, the Bears will travel on April 16 to the winner of Round One’s Army at Oklahoma. Cal can host an April 23 national semifinal by advancing past the Black Knights or Sooners, after which the May 7 Varsity Cup national championship final awaits the winner.
Following the Varsity Cup, Cal will turn back to the Olympic style of the game at the Penn Mutual Collegiate Rugby Championship June 4-5, when the Bears will play for their fourth straight national title in 7s ahead of the return of rugby to the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio.
The Scoring Timeline vs. Stanford
01:00 Fawzi Kawash 5, Matthew Coyle 2
03:00 Matt Ternan 5, Matthew Coyle 2
05:00 Fawzi Kawash 5, Matthew Coyle 2
10:00 William Fuller 5, Matthew Coyle 2
16:00 Nathan Becker 5, Matthew Coyle 2
22:00 Henry Baylor 5
28:00 Olivier Damas 5
32:00 Billy Maggs 5, Matthew Coyle 2
35:00 Fawzi Kawash 5, Matthew Coyle 2
Halftime Score: California 59, Stanford 0
45:00 William Fuller 5, Matthew Coyle 2
48:00 Fawzi Kawash 5, Matthew Coyle 2
50:00 Stanford (Barrett Madvec) 5
53:00 Anthony Kosinski 5, Matthew Coyle 2
58:00 Matthew Coyle 5
62:00 Evan Coleman 5
68:00 Agustin Centurion 5
70:00 Billy Maggs 5
74:00 Billy Maggs 5, Jaime Howells 2
77:00 Chase Bixby 5, Jaime Howells 2
78:00 William Fuller 5, Jaime Howells 2
Final Score: California 121, Stanford 5
The Team vs. Stanford
15. d’Auriol, 14. Fuller, 13. Maggs, 12. Ternan (Centurion @ 51:00), @, 11. Coleman (Tavenner @ 60:00), 10. Coyle, 9. Kawash (Goodwin @ 60:00), 1. Ogburn (Douglas @ 32:00), 2. Joyce (Sekona @ 70:00), 3. Baylor (Iscaro @ 60:00), 4. Damas, 5. Paylor (Bixby @ 51:00), 6. de Gentile-Williams (F. Le Merle @ 60:00), 7. Mirhashem, 8. Becker
