Keelhauler Rugby Team Defeats CSU Monterey Bay

(March 2, 2013, Vallejo, CA) Behind a 12-try effort by Cal Maritime's rugby team, the Cal Maritime Keelhaulers defeated a feisty yet outmatched Cal State Monterey Bay team 71 - 12. The win improved the Keelhaulers overall record to 10 - 1 as well as kept them in first place in the NorCal Collegiate Rugby Conference with 2 league games to play. CMA has additional victories over D1 Stanford University, D1 Sac State, D1 SF State, and D1 UC Davis in addition to its victories over its league competitors. CMA hopes to do well in league play in the NorCal CRC in order to earn a playoff berth in the Small College National Championship. Cal Maritime made it to the Small College National Championship last year but fell 8 points short of victory. Scoring tries for the Keelhaulers were freshmen flanker Evan Chambers (4), centers Chad Mensinger (2) and Michael Tanja, sophomores lock PJ Winder, 8-man Ben Jendricks and wing Travis Quesenberry (2), and senior 8-man Lonnie Shankling. Senior fullback Kevin Raff was successful on 3 of his 6 conversion kick attempts as well as an opening penalty kick. Freshman scrumhalf Brian Martinez was good on 1 of his 4 conversion attempts. CSU Monterey Bay scored 2 tries to reward strong runs by their pack.

CMA's next rugby match will be against Penn State on Wednesday, 3/6, followed by a league game against St. Mary's College on Friday, March 8. Penn State is on a West Coast tour during their Spring Break. CMA will host both games at their newly renovated rugby pitch; kick-off for both will be at 7pm. Please come out to support your Keelhaulers against two perennial D1 national championship contending clubs.