If there’s one thing I’ve learned while covering the Cal rugby team, it’s that coach Jack Clark takes his sport very seriously.

Rarely does he show expressions of joy on the sideline, and rarely does he praise his team’s effort—even in blowout victories.

All of that was different Wednesday against British Columbia.

For maybe the first time all season, Clark was happy simply because the Bears won. He praised senior scrumhalf Zachary Triplett for a strong performance despite suffering a lower hamstring injury against Saint Mary’s. He lauded his team’s desire against its toughest opponent of the season.

He even got in a few fist pumps. Late in the first half against the Thunderbirds, Cal led 8-5 and was knocking at the try zone.

When junior winger Eduardo Lopez recovered a loose ball and dashed across the try line, Clark was elated.”I had just told (Lopez) to watch out ’cause the ball would squirt out there, so I was high-fiving myself I guess,” Clark said. “I got a little carried away.”Oh, but it was so worth it.

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