Rugby plays thrilling friendly with UC Davis

The Keelhaulers were down 10-0 and 15-3 before fighting back to take a 21-15 lead with 19 minutes left, before the Aggies pulled away late to defeat Cal Maritime 43-21.

UC Davis jumped out to an early lead with a try just a minute into the match and then a Keelhauler bobble of the ball led to a scoop and score for the Aggies as long run the other way made it 10-0 UC Davis.

Senior Michael Mukuru-Tumusiime got Cal Maritime on the board with a penalty kick to goal, but the Aggies took off for another long run almost immediately after that and it was 15-3 UC Davis. The Keelhaulers would break out for a long run of their own when Jacob Jenkins shot through the Davis defense and a good conversion by Mukuru-Tumusiime and was just a 15-10 UC Davis lead late first half.

Another penalty kick good for Mukuru-Tumusiime and the Keelhaulers cut it a 15-13 deficit with just four minutes left in the first half and would trail by that score at the break. Mukuru-Tumusiime would pull out more fancy footwork with a drop kick to put Cal Maritime up by one with 25 minutes remaining. A maul by the Keelhaulers led to senior Daynon Matthews punching it in with a fantastic effort and it was 21-15 Cal Maritime with 19 minutes left.

But UC Davis would again answer quickly with a try and a conversion to reclaim the lead at 22-21 Aggies. A try after some nice cut-back running by Davis left the Keelhaulers a bit off balance put Davis up 29-21, and then the size and speed of the Aggies caught the Maritime back end out of position for a try through the left side followed by a conversion to make it 36-21 with 11:40 left to play. Davis would tack on one more score late for the 43-21 final.