The Mustangs had mixed results over the weekend, posting a 15-10 victory over the Bruins from UCLA on Friday, and then falling to the Wildcats of Arizona 31-24 on Sunday. Friday night was a sloppy, hard fought victory, as rain dumped on the field for the majority of the match. The Mustangs scored first as 8-man Alex Murchison, who has taken over the kicking duties, hit a penalty kick to give the mustangs a 3-0 lead. The Mustangs maul was effective all night long, and not soon after the Bruins answered back with a try of their own, Freshman flanker Danny DeAlba was able to score off a Mustang line-out, to bring the score to 8-7. The Bruins answered back to take the lead shortly after half time with a penalty kick, but Cal Poly, who maintained their composure despite the wet weather, scored again on a try from rookie hooker Joe Saldana. The Murchison conversion brought the score to 15-10, and the Mustangs held on over the final twenty minutes, to avenge their loss to the Bruins in Los Angeles earlier this season. “Man it was wet out there,” recalls De Alba,” but it was kinda cool.”
The conditions were better Sunday as the Mustangs played host to the University of Arizona at Talley fields. Cal Poly was looking to avenge a loss suffered to the Wildcats earlier in the year during a dramatic game in Las Vegas. Still feeling the effects from the hard fought Friday night game, the Poly fifteen started slow and allowed the Wildcats to score twice within the first ten minutes of the game. However, the Mustangs came roaring back in the second half, Poly was able to create some offense, including the first try of the year from speedy sophomore winger Tyler Carr. Junior lock Charlie Hamilton had another fine game, while President Aaron Bordenave and Sophomore Flanker David Schaefer muscled their way over the line in the second half. The try of the game and perhaps the season came from All-Star 8-man Alex Murchison as he evaded several defenders for a sixty meter try, Murchison had another stellar kicking game and was two for four on trys that were scored mostly in the corner. The final forty was as intense a rugby match as you will see, and the Mustangs would have been victorious had it not been for an intercept try the Wildcats scored late in the Game. The Final was 31-24 and Poly was granted bonus points in the standings for scoring four trys and losing by seven or less. With those points Cal Poly moves into fourth place in the league, and are in good position to play in a playoff game with the third place team for Southern California’s final seed at the National Tournament. David Shafer reflected on the season after the game,”We have come a long way and really improved every game. You could see our offense really get going in the second half this game, and I got really sun burnt. I think its rad that we got bonus points.” Cal Poly looks to train hard during the Bye week in preparation of rivals San Diego State in two weeks.