Harbus

Issue date: 10/22/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Randy Goldstein (ND) Liam Patrick (OC) protects the ball in contact as Dave Fielding (OD) looks for the off-load.

After their triumphant weekend at Wharton, the HBS Rugby team squared off against a local side, The Boston Ironsides, last weekend. Staying mentally focused was key. The team had won every match of the year by a wide margin and the temptation to relax and play a sloppy game would certainly have crept into the mind's of some teams. However, Harvard stayed focused as the felled the Ironsides 92 - 0.

The match was a professional contest between two upstanding teams. Both sides played clean and there was a lot of mutual respect. Harvard put up 52 points in the first half and held the Ironsides scoreless. The forwards clicked well, winning both Harvard balls and stealing the Ironside scrums. As usual, they rucked over the ball with reckless abandon. Brian Geary (OA) had two long breakaway tries, breaking through tacklers both times to coast the rest of the way. Allan Rowe (OD) used his exceptional strength and power to run through several arm tackles before sprinting past the Ironside backs and put one between the posts. During the ensuing kickoff return, Joel Hartel (NB) nearly took it back all the way, juking the pants off an Ironsides defender and running through several more. Joe Harrington (HLS) again showcased his speed, outrunning the backs for a bouncing ball kicked into the try zone. That makes three times this season Harrington has fallen on the ball in the try zone for a score…a new HBS Rugby record. The back line contributed equally to the lopsided win by exploiting gaps and making big runs. Mark De Ambrosis (OF) continued his strong play at scrum half by taking charge on the pitch and getting clean ball to the backs the entire match. The dynamic pairing of Atsushi Oshiba (OF) and Brendan Whitworth (OJ) ant ten and twelve opened up the inside lanes. Joe Kim (OA), who played his first rugby four weeks ago, started at fullback and had his first try on a 50-meter break away up the sideline. With Ironside's backs hot on his heels, he put it into high gear and out ran his two pursuers. Team Co-Captain Liam Patrick (OC) took a perfect pass from Whitworth, brought it through a gap and past the fullback for another score. He added another by rounding the corner past the opposing wing later in the half.

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