"At this stage of the season, it's simple: know your job and get it done."

GCU Men's Rugby Head Coach Sean O'Leary laid out that message for his team prior to kickoff of Grand Canyon University Men's Rugby's 24-14 victory over rival UCLA on Saturday. The match, held on the GCU Practice Soccer Field, marked the beginning of the spring season for the Lopes.

GCU spent the majority of the first half in UCLA territory, frequently taking deep trips towards the try zone. The Bruins completed some clear-out kicks to keep the match scoreless until GCU broke through for a try at the 14-minute mark, nailing the ensuing conversion kick to take a 7-0 lead. Lopes' senior scrum-half Tucker Trickey then pulled off an incredible play, taking his own kick into the try zone. GCU missed the conversion kick that followed to take a 12-0 halftime lead.

"We're playing tough, hard-fought rugby against a really good side," said O'Leary at the break. "This game is far from over, and the depth of our side is going to be tested as fatigue sets in for the second half."

At the half, O'Leary mentioned on the Varsity Sports Show live game broadcast that his depth would likely be tested in the second half.

He was right.

In O'Leary's own Irish terms, the sides continued to "knock the bejesus out of each other". UCLA finally got on the board 22 minutes into the second half to cut the Lopes' lead to 12-7. A quick answer from GCU and a successful conversion put the Lopes back into a commanding 19-7 lead in the slugfest, and the Bruins never got within a try after that.

"There's a disruptor in town," said O'Leary after the game. "Games like this show other programs who GCU is."

GCU hits the road next, playing at California State University Berkeley on Saturday, February 4. They return home for a highlight matchup against BYU on Thursday, February 9 on the GCU Practice Soccer Field. Kickoff is at 6:00 PM.

The match was the first of many GCU Club Sports events to be streamed by the crew from the Varsity Sports Show. The next stream, a GCU Women's Rugby match against California State University Northridge, will occur on February 26 at 11:00 AM at GCU Soccer Stadium.