Gaels Cruise Past Lifewest 69–22 in Return from New Zealand Tour
By AJ Clement
Moraga, Calif. —Riding the momentum of their New Zealand tour, The Saint Mary's Gaels (6-0-0) invited NCRFU opponent Lifewest to Moraga Saturday afternoon. The Gaels delivered another dominant performance, defeating Lifewest 69-22. Strong execution in open play combined with disciplined defence for much of the match allowed the Gaels to control territory from the start.
The game opened with high pressure and deep offensive looks for both sides, but Kieran Tingin gave the Gaels an early lead with a try in the 8th minute. The Gladiators responded shortly after, capitalizing on a Gaels scrum error, narrowing the margin to 7-5. This response sparked the Gaels, who scored two more tries, pushing the score to 21-5 after 30 minutes of play. The attacking momentum continued late in the half. An Atelea Tengi try in the 32nd minute and try from Siale Ofa extended the lead to 35-5, before Oli Cline added a drop goal right before halftime to make it 38-5.
Lifewest opened the second half with a try in the 43rd minute to cut into the deficit, but Saint Mary's quickly regained control as John Wilson answered with a try two minutes later, followed by tries from Mario Storti and Iosefa Toia'ivao that stretched the lead to 57-10. The Gaels' attacking depth was evident, with multiple contributors finishing sustained possession sequences. Defensively, Saint Mary's also produced key moments, including a held-up try in the 62nd minute that prevented Life West from building momentum. Still, Life West found late attacking success with tries late in the half, trimming the score to 57–22 and briefly testing the Gaels' defensive organization. Saint Mary's closed the match strongly with two late tries, sealing the 69-22 result.
Players said the recent New Zealand tour played a major role in preparing the team for Saturday's performance. Forward John Wilson emphasized the cultural impact of the trip, saying, "It's not about the training or the rugby. It's about the people." He added that the experience helped the team grow closer while improving on-field communication and cohesion.
Mario Storti highlighted the technical side of the tour, noting the squad gained valuable tactical insight from international coaching. "We learned a lot, especially defensively, offensively, how we could create space," he said, adding that the team's goal against Life West was to bring those lessons directly into match play.
Colin Donnelly pointed to adaptability as another takeaway from the trip. "You just got to be able to step up when you need to" he said, referencing situations overseas where players shifted roles mid-match.
Looking ahead, the Gaels emphasized a steady, process-driven approach as they prepare for upcoming matchups, including BYU, UCLA, and rival Cal later in the spring. Rather than focusing too far ahead, players said the priority is continued daily improvement.
"Just day by day, week by week — take what we learned today and implement it" Donnelly and Storti added. John Wilson echoed that mindset, emphasizing internal standards over opponent scouting. "In the end of it, it's about us — our training, our day-to-day practices, our extras. Our process is how we're going to get there," he said.
Up Next: The Gaels are headed to Sacramento State on Saturday, February 21 to face the Hornets, where they will look to carry forward the attacking momentum and continue sharpening execution as the season progresses.