Rugby Starts Spring with Win

By Thomas Monahan | Friday, April 8, 2005

Last Saturday, the Dartmouth Rugby Football Club braved the rain and the "Massholes" as they traveled to Pine Banks Park in Malden, MA to face Northeastern. Wet conditions have caused trouble in the past for the DRFC, but the team adapted well and trounced the poorly-mannered and ill-educated Terrier squad.

Strong kicking by fullbacks Andrew Caspary '06 and Scott Penner '06 kept pressure on Northeastern throughout the first half. Sloppy ball handling near the try-zone spoiled several scoring opportunities, though. By the end of the half the DRFC held a slim lead of 8-0.

In the second half, the men in green scored five tries to Northeastern's three. Much of the scoring came from Andrew Caspary '06, who went on to score three tries in the half. Jesse Blom '06 scored a pair of tries in the half, including one 50-meter interception shortly after play resumed.

The match was a great test for the DRFC, as strong play by Dartmouth's forwards set an effective platform for the backs to work off of.

"I was pleased with the result this weekend against Northeastern. I think it is a solid platform to build on going into Ivies and nationals," co-captain Brad Hogate '05 said.

Dartmouth Rugby Football Club finished the fall season as the number two team in the northeast, garnering the ninth seed in the National Collegiate Rugby Tournament. While the team continued to develop and train over the winter, many upperclassmen were off campus, so when the team came together for its annual spring tour, it was the first time many on the team had seen one another for several months.

The team began its campaign for the national championship in the Cal Invitational tournament in Berkeley. Against first-round opponent Ohio State, Dartmouth's winter off-season proved to be a glaring disadvantage, as the men in green fell by a score of 61 to 7. The next day, however, the Indians stormed the pitch with the determination and fury that has come to typify Dartmouth rugby. The men scored two tries in the last 10 minutes of play to capture a 25-24 victory. The following weekend in Los Angeles, sloppy play and Dartmouth's forwards' inability to secure position caused Dartmouth to fall to UCLA 46-36.

This weekend, the DRFC heads to the University of Pennsylvania, which is hosting the Ivy League Rugby Championship. Dartmouth has won more Ivy League titles than any other team, but the DRFC has experienced a two-year drought after capturing the title every year from 1998 to 2002.

Head Coach Alex Magleby '00 said he is eager to recapture the title and "looking forward to what appears to be the most competitive Ivy tournament in recent years. Yale is moving to D-I New England and has improved greatly over the last two years. Harvard, Princeton, and Cornell are consistently strong sides, and based on their recent results, Penn looks to be the most improved side."

Next weekend, the DRFC travels to Berkeley to compete in the National Sweet Sixteen. Ninth-ranked Dartmouth will face the University of Tennessee (8) on Saturday. On, Sunday Dartmouth will either face UC-Berkeley (1) or Minnesota (16).

Rugby Starts Spring with Win

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