BERKELEY — The California Golden Bears outscored the UBC Thunderbirds by 12 points in the second half for a 39-26 win Saturday at Witter Rugby Field in the first leg of the World Cup.
 
Cal took a lead they would not relinquish on a try by sophomore Sam Cusano in the 50th minute. That was followed by a 40-metre penalty from near the right touchline at minute 70 by flyhalf Jamie Howells (4-for-5 conversions, 2-of-2 penalties) to seal the win on a blustery afternoon in Strawberry Canyon.
 
Fullback Aidan Flynn opened scoring in the second minute when he finished the first offensive sequence for Cal after a penetrating run by sophomore centre Christian Dyer.
 
Following a try by Thunderbirds prop Clint Lemkus that was converted by Theo Saunder (3-for-6) to tie the score, Nic Mirhashem retook the lead for the Bears after the Cal flanker chased down the ensuing kickoff and powered his way into the try zone.
 
The match was tied again five minutes later on an unconverted try by UBC hooker Connor Sampson, but Howells slotted his first penalty to give the Bears a 15-12 lead at minute 18.
 
Sophomore scrumhalf Keanu Andrade scored a try to answer the one notched by his opposite number for UBC, Cole Keffer, but two more T-Birds tries put the Bears into a 31-22 hole at halftime.
 

At the half @UBCRugby 31 @CalVarsityRugby 22 @BCRugbyNews #gobirdsgo @ubctbirds ???????????? pic.twitter.com/MiEM1lrFhc

— UBC Rugby Alumni (@ubcrugbyalumni) February 24, 2018

Cal came out strong in the second half as sophomore tighthead prop Damon Wiley's effort to score was held up in goal before loosehead prop Kevin Sullivan's try and Howells' conversion brought the Bears to within two at 31-29.
 
Maintaining their composure, the Bears retook the lead for good on Cusano's try and added the insurance of Howells' penalty kick before UBC scrumhalf Cole Keffer's second try as time expired, trimming the final tally to a three-point outcome.
 
The T-Birds will look for some home cooking when they host Cal on Sunday, March 4 at Thunderbird Stadium for the second leg of the World Cup.




The Scoring Timeline vs. British Columbia
 
02:00 Aidan Flynn 5, Jamie Howells 2
 
06:00 UBC (Clint Lemkus) 5, (Theo Sauder) 2
 
07:00 Nic Mirhashem 5
 
13:00 UBC Connor Sampson 5
 
18:00 Jamie Howells 3
 
19:00 UBC (Cole Keffer) 5, (Theo Sauder) 2
 
23:00 Keanue Andrade 5, Jamie Howells 2
 
27:00 UBC (Elias Ergas) 5, (Theo Sauder) 2
 
32:00 UBC (Jake Lan) 5
 
Halftime Score: British Columbia 31, California 22
 
43:00 Kevin Sullivan 5,Jamie Howells 2
 
50:00 Sam Cusano 5, Jamie Howells 2
 
70:00 Jamie Howells 3
 
80:00 UBC (Cole Keffer) 5
 
Final Score: California 39, British Columbia 36
 
The Team vs. British Columbia
 
15. Flynn, 14. Cusano, 13. Dyer (Purdey @ 10:00, Dyer @ 20:00), 12. Saunders (Purdey @ 57:00), 11. Tavenner (Goena 69:00), 10. Howells, 9. Andrade (Kurihara @ 68:00), 1. Sullivan. 2. Ogburn (Iscaro @ 74:00), 3. Wiley (Baylor @ 76:00), 4. Salter, 5. Bader, 6. Spradling, 7. Mirhashem (Heaney @ 08:00, Mirhashem @ 18:00), 8. Robles