Spring Break
HBS Rugby Extends Record to 3-0
Issue date: 9/29/08 Section: Sports
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On a beautiful sunny day, the game began with a series of hard slogs up and down the pitch with HBS repeatedly driving up the field only to be turned back by turnovers and kicks. HBS established solid rucking and good set-pieces, particularly dominated the line-outs early on.
Co-Captain Chris Trimble (HKS) broke the ice off a penalty, driving through several opposing players to place the ball in the trizone. Doug Haber (NE) converted the extra points. Harvard immediately resumed the offensive. After several phases of rucking by the forwards, Curt Willener (OJ) had a long-breakaway run that ended in an unsportsmanlike high tackle by a North Shore back. The ref awarded a penalty try, which Doug converted to make the score 14-0 at the half.
During the entire first half, Harvard was consistently able to disrupt North Shore's scrums, lineouts, and rucks, despite a significant size disadvantage in the pack. Randy Goldstein (OD), Seth Ross (OB), and Ben Reno-Weber (OC) were particularly able to win several defensive rucks, resulting in demoralizing turnovers for North Shore. Joe Harrington (HLS) dominated the line-outs. Anthony Bangay (NG) displayed great flexibility, rucking, running, chasing down balls, and receiving kicks. Scrumhalf James Joun (ND) was everywhere on the field, pulling the ball out of often messy loose play.
North Shore began the second half playing a man down with one in the sin-bin, and HBS took no time in taking advantage of it with quick outs to the backs. Unselfishly dishing the ball both and forth up the field, the backline showed fantastic team play,. Mike Lloyd (HLS) took advantage of some sloppy play to kick the ball up the field and Doug Haber (ND) was able to display some soccer skills and score in the corner. Back play overall was excellent, particularly defensively with Evan Engstrom (HLS), Peter Baldwin (NJ), and Curt Willener (OJ) each putting in some big hits.
HBS's final try came off of a scrum on their 5-meter line. The backs spun it out quick, but got held up just short of the line. With a quick out from the ruck, Chris Trimble popped into the corner.
Fitness began to be a factor for North Shore as the game continued. However, in the last few minutes, North Shore was able to put five on the board with a back line play to their wing.
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