WESTWOOD, CA — The fall 7's rugby season kicked off last Saturday at the UCLA 7's tournament. For the third consecutive year the number of teams participating in the competition rose and so too did the quality and excitement of the on-field action. With seven programs from across California participating in this year's UCLA 7's, what was once a set of 7's scrimmages has started to become a proving ground for California's 7's programs before competing in the two-leg West Coast 7's Series.

Saturday's action started off with a crosstown match-up between the Bruins and a rising LA rugby program, Loyola Marymount. UCLA showed little rust in the opening seven minutes of the match, quickly working two tries and maintaining over four minutes of possession to go into half-time with a 14-0 lead. The second half showed some clinical defensive errors from the Bruins as they gave up an early try off the back of sustained LMU pressure. In the end the home team turned it around and finished the match with 15 unanswered points to win by a 29-5 margin.

Before the Bruins had their second bout of action on the day, another rising LA area program, Claremont Mckenna College, squared off against the University of San Diego in in a high-tempo, high-intensity grudge match. Both teams looked evenly matched throughout much of the first half, but Claremont took a 12-5 lead before the halftime break thanks to a pair of breakaway tries. USD almost clawed their way back in the second half but eventually succumbed due to missed conversions, losing by a score of 17-15.

The Bruins second match of the day showcased and almost entirely new lineup against the old foe, USC. UCLA enjoyed early possession and pressure and were rewarded with a beautiful try just three minutes in to take a 7-0 lead. The boys in blue refused to let up and made easy work of the Trojans' defense, scoring two more tries before halftime to extend their lead to 17-0. Coach Stewart decided to make near wholesale changes at half time after the half and was greeted with a solid defensive performance from his team as they saw out a 17-7 victory.

 As UCLA stepped off the field after their first win over USC of the season, SDSU and San Francisco State stepped on for their first ever match against one another. Tournament newcomers, San Francisco State, showed moments of positivity but were ultimately overrun by San Diego State; the Aztecs taking the match 26-0. Up next for UCLA was their toughest match of the day, a battle against USD.

UCLA went into the match against USD with their third different lineup combination of the day, a scattering of veterans and new players ready to prove their capabilities on the 7's pitch. For the third match in a row, the Bruins were out of the gates in a flash, scoring two tries in under four minutes and dominating the Toreros on offense and defense. The second half proved to be a different story, however, as the men from San Diego meticulously pulled themselves out of the deficit, scoring two tries and putting over a central conversion to hand UCLA their first loss of the day, 10-12.

The Bruins had little time to rebound from the loss against USD before squaring off against newcomers, SFSU. Just as they had in the first match of the day, UCLA ran in two easy tries in the first half to shoot out to a quick 14-0 lead. Despite allowing a second-half try, UCLA scored a third try of their own to earn their third victory of the day by a score of 21-7. The new lineup allowed other players priceless minutes and the opportunity to make their case for next week's San Luis Obispo 7's travel squad.

UCLA's last match of the day would come against a rival that has caused problems for the Bruins in various tournaments over the last three years, San Diego State. UCLA and SDSU have faced off in the last three consecutive San Luis Obispo 7's, the Bruins having won one of their three matchups.

Saturday's match had no hangups.The boys in blue turned in their best performance of the day, racing ahead to a 26-0 lead before San Diego State even had a scoring chance. Even as the Aztecs pulled back two tries early in the second half the Bruins did not lose their composure, scoring there fifth try of the match to win by a 33-12 margin.

With four wins from five at the and invaluable minutes of practice and development, the Bruins look to be in good shape leading into next weekend's San Luis Obispo 7's. Stay tuned with continuing action from UCLA Rugby through our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and website, and make sure to support your Bruins as they head up to San Luis Obispo this weekend for the first leg of the West Coast 7's Series!