Original Article: http://dartreview.com/archives/1997/05/28/ruggers_fall_in_round_of_eight.php
Wednesday, May 28, 1997
On the weekend of April 18, the DRFC traveled down to State College, Pennsylvania, to play Rice University in the round of sixteen, and possibly advance to the round of eight, in the college rugby national tournament. Dartmouth jumped on Rice right from the opening whistle, when Freshman flanker Alex 'I killed Opie' Magleby '00 and prop Dan 'You want a piece of me?' Thibeault '97 aided each other to score a try, and soon afterwards, scrumhalf Doug 'Caboose' Burnaford '98 ran weak and snuck through for another try. Adam 'I lead with my face' Himoff '98 helped Morn score a few minutes later, and then, on a long pass to winger Scott 'Mild mannered' Whiting '99, he scored in the corner. Scrumhalf Burnaford later scored his second try. Morn scored the final try of the half bringing the score to 38-7.
Dartmouth took advantage of the new substitution law in the second half and used 6 replacements, but the scoring continued. Burnaford scored his third try of the match, and shortly thereafter, Center Dave 'Low as the Lindabex' Miller '98 burst over from a ruck for a try. Captain Dimblad finished off the scoring with two tries in the final 15 minutes. The final score was 58-14.
In the other semi-final Cal-Davis beat Navy 62-29, so Dartmouth and Davis moved on to Sunday to decide who would reach the national final four.
After kickoff on Sunday, Davis immediately pinned Dartmouth to their half. Davis scored three quick tries on Dartmouth mistakes earning a 21-0 lead. With just a minute left in the half, Davis was penalized near their own goal line. Captain and flyhalf Dimblad ran wide and scrum half Burnaford then ran weak, dummied his opponent, and sliced through for the score. Fullback Morn made the conversion and the half ended with Davis leading 21-7.
Dartmouth immediately used the wind in the second half to pressure Davis. Burnaford sent the ball to outside center Craig 'I cuddle, and I don't care who knows it' Smith who scored, and Morn's conversion made it 21-14, Davis.With 10 minutes left in the game, Dartmouth spun the ball to wing Miller who sprinted in for a try, and Morn made the conversion from a difficult angle to tie the score.
Overtime in the collegiate tournament is decided by sudden death, and Davis won the toss. After the kickoff, the Big Green gambled with a miss play to the outside, and the Davis center intercepted the pass and ran for the winning score and a spot in the Final Four. Miller, who scored one try in the game against Davis, said afterwards, 'It would have been great if we had reached the final four, but since we lost, all I can do is cry as I embrace my teammates and share my feelings so they don't eat me up inside. Where's the bar?'
Dartmouth finished as New England and Northeast champions. Their loss in the national round of 8 places them among the top teams in the country. The A-side domestic record for the year was 13-1-1.
After the disappointing loss at the nationals, the DRFC collected themselves, resumed practice at Sachem, said good bye to the senior players, and elected new officers for the club.
That next weekend, the new regime hosted the New Hampshire Cup at Sachem Fields. Despite the fact that the Dartmouth A-side team was playing for the first time without its experienced senior leaders, it finished the day victorious. In the first round, the DRFC punished Plymouth State,defeating them 48-8. Unfortunately, the DRFC suffered the loss of their flanker Co-captain Adam 'Peanut Brittle' Himoff after he broke his nose. Following that game, the University of New Hampshire narrowly defeated Keene State College 19-11.
In the championships the DRFC faced UNH in a match to settle a long standing state rivalry. Dartmouth charged from the gates quickly scoring three strong tries in the first half by fullback David 'I'm not feeling regular today' Miller '98, prop Daniel 'Beefloaf' Thiebault '98, and flyhalf Mark 'Peaches' Oldham '99. With none of the three tries converted, Dartmouth led 15-0 at half time.
In the second half, Miller scored his second try, but Doug 'I don't keep the leftover vaseline' Heyman '98 and center Rob 'ROTC' Fasani, on his A-side debut, scored to win the game 32-12. Also notable was inside center Peter 'Breathless' Sperger '98, who left in the second half with a bruised ankle, hooker Max 'If you're bitter and you know it, clap your hands' Swedlow '98, and scrumhalf Captain Doug 'Not a Public Speaker' Burnaford.
Also during the day, the Dartmouth B-side decisively defeated the UNH Bs 41-5, and the Dartmouth C-side finished victorious over the UNH Cs by 11.
This past weekend, the DRFC traveled to Boston to play Harvard on the Crimson's 125th rugby anniversary. Traditionally, the DRFC seniors step down after the national tournament, but they returned one last time for this special occasion.
Throughout the first half, Dartmouth dominated the game holding Harvard in their half of the field, but the DRFC was unable to capitalize on any of their scoring opportunities. Though Dartmouth pressured the Crimson with strong defense, Harvard managed to score two tries at the twenty-five and thirty-seven minutes marks. Since only the second try was converted, Harvard led at the half by a score of 12-0. Firing themselves up at half time, the DRFC quickly turned things around in the second half when winger Peter 'That's right, winger' Sisitsky scored a strong try after a series of rucks. Fullback Mike 'Jagged little pill' Morn converted the try, and the score was closed to 7-12. Harvard soon after scored again, but they could not convert the try, and Harvard led 17-7.
Refusing to be demoralized, DRFC 8-man Alex 'I'm not a Mormon' Magelby '00 ran a lefto from the scrum, passed to Captain scrum half Doug 'Longshanks' Burnaford, who passed to winger David 'I keep the leftover vaseline' Miller, who passed back inside to Magleby for the try. As the try was unconverted, the score closed to 12-17, in favor of Harvard.
Late in the second half, Miller was fed a pass off which he scored to tie the game at 17, and five minutes later, Morn scored a try bringing Dartmouth into the lead by 7. After a Harvard kickoff, the ball was sent through the hands of the Dartmouth backs ending up with Morn who scored his second try of the game.
The score was now 31-17. With less than three minutes left in the game, as Dartmouth worked its way to Harvard's ten meter line, Burnaford played a dummy 1-2, and flanker Doug 'Trix aren't only for kids' Heyman ran off the ruck, receiving the pass, and broke through to score a try bringing the final score of the game to 38-17.
The Dartmouth win over Harvard was important for several reasons. One, it further proved the superiority of the Green over the Crimson. Two, after such a successful and memorable season, it would have been a disgrace for the DRFC seniors to lose their last game. Three, due to the loss in front of so many supporters, the Harvard RFC budget will probably be cut in half for next year.
The DRFC Spring of 1997 will be remembered for a long time. The team's talent, camaraderie, and success was a reflection of a special collection of teammates whose small size, but refined skill, surmounted many bigger and stronger opponents. The DRFC closes the season proud of where it has been, sorry to see its seniors leave, and excited to move on.