The Yale University Rugby Football Club

YALE 49 - Western Connecticut State 17

This past weekend Yale traveled to Western Connecticut State University to play a late scheduled game in place of the cancelled CT-Select Tournament. The A-side game was scheduled for 4 pm, with the B-side match to follow thereafter.

Playing on artificial grass the match promised to be cleaner and crisper than Yale's previous games this season. Knowing they would face formidable opposition and eager to put this season's losses behind them Yale came out firing on all cylinders. After weather persistent West Conn. attack early in the half, Yale turned up the pressure with the first score coming five minutes into the game. From a quick tap flyhalf Rob Smith '06 ran 30 meters before linking up with fullback Matt Reagan '05 who would again find Smith for the score. Despite the missed conversion the momentum was clearly in Yale's favor and stayed so for the remainder of the game.

More tries, by Don Jeon '05 at center, Sean Walbridge '08 at flanker, and Reagan gave Yale a commanding lead. With the game clearly in their favor Yale began to lose focus as halftime approached. A late defensive lapse allowed a West Conn. try bringing the halftime score to 29-7 in favor of Yale.

Regrouping at the half Yale came out with the explosiveness with which they had begun the game. Excellent play by the forwards at the breakdown and explosive running by the backs set up a series of scores. Encouraging to see were the quick, soft hands Yale displayed in open field play, allowing forwards and backs to link up to find wholes in the West Conn. defense. Opportune play by scrumhalf Garan Geist '06 resulted in a score of his own toward the games end. Sadly as the game wore on, tempers flared and various scuffles erupted, blemishing what was otherwise an excellent display of poise and determination by the entire Yale team.

As fulltime approached various future talent was introduced to the game. Exceptional play by Sam Beutler ‘07 and Henry Cook '06 on the wings showed the promise of upcoming success in Yale's future. As time word down Yale again suffered from a couple mental errors that gave West Conn. a couple scores of their own. The match ended 49-17 in favor of Yale who showed promise against a West Conn. team who vastly outsized Yale.

The B-side match proved much closer but again ended in favor of Yale 12-5. With some exceptional play by rookies Greg Carlson and Zach Dugan '07, who scored his first try of his career, Yale put on a class performance against a West Conn. side that featured a few of their A-side players. Yale showed poise at the breakdown and some excellent tackling that kept the game close until the final minutes. Showing a superior fitness level, Yale's B-side was able to wear down the West Conn. team as the final whistle approached, securing victory in the dying moments with a score up the middle off broken play. Again excellent play by prop Ben Swiss '08, and Sam Beutler '07, showed the rising level of talent on the Yale roster.

In all the weekend proved a success. Both sides played with poise, putting into action all that had been emphasized in practice in the previous week. Yale looks to continue to build this coming week as they face UCONN at home in their final preparation match before the Ivy League tournament in Philadelphia. As always all support is welcome and greatly appreciated!