Brown Women 24 - Princeton Women 17

Brown Women's Rugby claimed it's sixth consecutive Ivy Championship defeating Princeton 24-17 at Princeton. This is the first Ivy Rugby Conference Championship for Brown, but the Brown Bears have won the Spring Ivy XVs tournament five year's running before winning the league in 2011.

Brown Women 2011 Ivy Rugby Champions

Both squads came into the contest at 4-0 in the Ivies. The victor, Brown, is the Ivy Rugby Conference champion and the top Ivy seed in the Northeast playoffs. Princeton finishes second and will also be seeded in the NRU tournament.

Combined Brown and Princeton team photo - post match

The match lived up to expectations as both teams fought a full eighty minutes. Princeton pushed Brown back against their own line for the first 10 minutes - Brown repelled a number of Princeton attempts to go over. Twelve minutes in captain Chelsea Garber '12 got Brown moving driving over the 50 and into Princeton territory. Off a ruck Chelsea darted weak and outran the surprised Princeton line for a 30 meter try. The conversion was wide and Brown led 5-0.

Princeton responded driving back into the Brown 22. the Tigers were rewarded at the 22nd minute with a try and a conversion. The remainder of the half saw both teams pulling off brilliant drives and courageous defensive stands. The half ended with a 7-5 Princeton lead.

Brown came out of the half and seemed in good form. The forwards began
to win loose ball and the backs pulled off a series of nice plays. Lock Maiki Paul '14 was the hero picking the ball off a ruck and diving over for her first try of the season - Brown led 10-7. Moments later Brown pulled off another series of well organized rugby and found themselves at the Princeton 30. Captain Chelsea Garber ran an eye-popping double switch move that put her over for score. Chelsea converted to give Brown a 17-5 lead. The match went back to a see-saw affair until 56 minutes in when Princeton blocked a Brown kick and fell on the ball in the goal to bring the score to 17-12.

Moments later Princeton found their way back into Brown territory and a 5-meter scrum. Princeton won the hook and began to walk over, Blair Station made a bold move, diving in to save the try - the referee called her for diving early and awarded the Tigers a penalty try. The Princeton 8 missed the kick between the posts and the score was tied with 10 minutes to go 17-17. 

Brown responded well driving over the ball and giving scrumhalf Blair Station'12 the platforms she needed. Brown had a number of nice excursions into the Princeton half but the Tiger defense held - with minutes in the game Shakeela Faulkner '12 took a beautiful ball and outraced the Princeton defense 60 meters for a try under the posts, Chelsea converted and Brown closed out the match with a very hard fought and historic 24-17 win.

Brown has a bye next week and a top seed going into the Northeast
Championships. The NRU finals will be contested Nov 4-5 at Dartmouth.