The Yale University Rugby Football Club

YALE 5 - Bahaman Bucaneers 10

YALE 24 - Nassau Cuckoo's 25

This year the Yale Rugby Club used Spring Break to tour the Bahamas and prepare for upcoming season.

Preparation began the second day of tour as Yale opened their season against the Bahaman Bucaneers, a local men's club from Nassau. Not knowing what to expect and factoring in the heat, Yale came out flat and looked very rusty. Admittedly several starters were absent in both the backs and forwards causing set plays to lack the crispness that brought Yale's fall success. Despite holding most of the possession and spending the dominant part of the first half in Bucaneer's territory, Yale failed to capitalize. The only score of the half came late as hooker Jordan Hanson '07 scored an opportunistic try from broken play deep in Bucaneer's territory. With time Yale settled down but still failed to build up multiple phases. Just before the break the Bucaneers came back to score a try of their own and converted successfully, leaving the halftime score at 7-5 in their favor.

Featuring a solid core of young, fast talent, the Bucaneers used their speed and the Carribbean heat to run Yale around the field in the second half. The Bucaneers opened the scoring with a penalty early on giving them a 10-5 lead. Yale showed some life early in the half breaking the Bucaneers' backline but lacking the poise to finish. Yale's best opportunity to take the lead came late as Captain Mike Atkins broke through the centers for a 60-yard run. Unfortunately the finishing pass wasn't handled and the Bucaneers were able to recover. The game ended 10-5, leaving Yale frustrated over missed oppotunities.

Four days later Yale played the second and final match of tour against the Nassau Cuckoo's. Yale used this opportunity to look at new combinations and give talented rookies valuable experience. Playing three thirty minute periods, the Cuckoo's escaped with a 25-24 scoreline that came down to the wire. Again Yale struggled to string multiple phases together, finding themselves in a hole early in the game. Yale battled back on the strong play of rookies and veterans alike bringing the score to 25-24 within the last few minutes. Earning a penalty in the last play of the game Yale had the opportunity to win their first game of tour and the season. Unfortunately the penalty went wide handing the Cuckoo's the match.

Despite the two losses, Yale gained valuable exposure to a faster style of rugby in different weather conditions. Rookies gained valuable experience on the first XV and all players had the opportunity to work out the kinks before the season begins in ernest on Thursday, March 24th, against St. Cuthbert's Society of Durham University.