Cal Poly opened California Conference play with a 34-10 defeat of rival UC Santa Barbara in Santa Barbara, Calif. Friday night.

“It was a very physical game in front of a hostile crowd,” said Cal Poly coach Dave Burnett.

“Cal Poly against UCSB is always a very hotly contested match whether its soccer or rugby, whatever, so it was a very hostile crowd on the sideline, but the boys did well to stay above it and we did well.”

Burnett was complimentary of the play of his scrum, and especially the front row of props Ben Crosby and Eric Parsons and hooker Pat McCreesh.

“We got a push over try in the last scrum of the game, which is always pleasing, especially for the coach,” said Burnett. “And we turned over a fair few balls in the scrum. Those boys really stood up and did a really good job for the team.”

The Mustangs continue California Conference play next week with a home game against San Diego State. UCSB takes a break until its Feb. 16 match with the Aztecs.