The Yale University Rugby Football Club

YALE 12 - Middlebury University 23

Yale A

Saturday, March 31st 2007, Yale Rugby played Middlebury in their first home game of the Spring 2007 season.

The first half started poorly for the Yale side. The team saw little possession and was pinned on defense in its half for most of the first 20 minutes. Good support and strong running by Middlebury exposed gaps in the Yale defense, allowing them to score three early tries. Yale's situation wasn't made any easier by the numerous penalties they gave away-especially at the break-down-that resulted in two conversions for Middlebury.

By the end of the first half, Yale had found its composure and were looking more solid on defense and deliberate on offense, but were unable to put points on the board before the half-time whistle blew.

The second half proved to be a very different game, with Yale dominating in both possession and field position. The Yale pack was given a boost by the inclusion of Mark Cotter '08 to the front row, who brought with him both mass and aggression.

Yale's first try came from a well structured maul off a 10 meter line-out, allowing 8th-man Erv Yeo '07 to place the ball down in the try-zone almost untouched. A second try came after a good passage of play that created an overlap for winger Sam White '08 to cross the try-line. Though, despite Yale's improved play in the second half, they were not able to close the 23 point gap from the first, leaving the final score at 23-12 to Middlebury.

The match was the first time the complete Yale team was able to play together in the Spring season and mistakes and poor decision making on both offense and defense were apparent. The Yale team looks to remedy those errors as they head to Washington for the 2007 Cherry Blossom Rugby Tournament.

Yale B

The Yale B side produced one of their best performances to date this past Saturday against Middlebury B, even with a number of key players missing. While they did not walk away with the result they'd hoped for, their determination and commitment was unquestioned.