Princeton Wins the Ivy Rugby Championship
After talking so much before the game about how focused Princeton needed to be to be to withstand Brown’s devastating centers and their outside speed, the Tigers gave up a try 41 seconds into the match. Princeton mishandled the opening KO, Brown's inside center smashed it up and their outside center, Eflo, scored an unconverted try. Just one minute into the match, Brown made it look like they were going to have an easy time of it.
Princeton clawed back into the match with a pushover try from a scrum scored by #8 Dot Mittow ’14 in the 21st minute. Ten minutes later tight rucking by the forwards led to a try by Kelsey Henderson ’15. With no time left in the first half, flanker and Oxford exchange student Madeleine Karn ’13, blocked a kick at the Brown goal line. Excited and confused to find it in her belly, she passed it quickly and after a ruck or two lock Lelabari Giwa-Ojuri ’14 scored her 3rd try of the weekend. Lauren Rhode '12 converted to give Princeton a commanding 17-5 halftime lead.
Two second-half Princeton mistakes put Brown right back in it with plenty of time to play in the second half. First Princeton lost their own scrum inside their own 5 meter. Brown' breakaway, #6 Lil Syd, scored unconverted 17-10. Then with Princeton threatening, Brown stole a lineout inside their own 22 and Elisha went 80 meters for a try under the posts. The conversion made it 17-17 with 17 minutes left to play.
Then with about 7 minutes left, following a forward drive near the Brown goal, Princeton Scrumhalf Stephanie Kim ’15 gave the ball to Lauren Rhode '12 who got tackled to her back in the In-Goal but managed to roll through the tackle and get the ball down.
After that it was all about hanging on for Princeton. With a scrum near the Princeton sideline, the referee was heard to say, “last play.” Princeton won the scrum, Morgan Arthur booted the ball comfortably into touch, and the celebration was on for Princeton.