Brown Bears Outlast Rams
What a difference a day makes (or in this case a week). As February gave way to March, 30 degree weather gave way to 50 + degree temperatures for this week’s match. The University of Rhode Island “Rams” made their way to Brown for what has historically been a physical contest between these two in-state rivals. This contest was no exception as URI rolled in with a side that, player for player, was larger then the Bears. However, there is more to the game of rugby than just size as Brown won the contest 35-20.
Providence, Rhode Island As with the previous match, there were no goal posts on the field turf and thus no penalties or conversions were possible. It was a shaky start for Brown as URI led off the scoring with a try in the first 5 minutes for a 5-0 lead. The next 20 minutes would see multiple opportunities slip through Brown’s fingers. But then a Brown scrum sent the ball to flyhalf Zehid Jethani’13. Jethani fed left wing Sam Rabb’10 who’s well timed run saw him through the URI defense to tie the match. Two injuries in the first half rendered the Brown team less effective with URI scoring at the 27 minute mark to go up 10-5. Ball retention and defense were the culprits for Brown’s poor play. Even a good break by flanker Hao Li’10 just before the half ended with a wayward pass and a URI try, run the length of the field for a 15-5 Rams halftime lead.
The Bears corrected the errors of the first half with much better forward ball retention and patterned play. Number Eight Greg Karwaski scored from a lineout drive, lock Rall Walsh’10 found a gap off a ruck for a try and center Brad Arlington’10 broke through the Rams’ backline for three successive second half scores and a 20-15 Brown lead. With 20 minutes left in the match, wing Sam Rabb was replaced by our Winter Olympian,Dow Travers’11, recently back from representing the Cayman Islands in the Olympic Alpine Giant Slalom event. Brown immediately dug a hole as flanker Hao Li was put in the “sin bin” for a law infraction. URI took full advantage of the numbers and leveled the score at 20-20. Brown soon answered that score as a stolen lineout ball was tapped down to hooker Dan Levine-Spound’12 at the front of the lineout. Despite several attempts by URI to stop his forward progress, Danny pressed on, touching the ball down over the line. Brown would add another score from a backline move, missing the inside center and hitting outside center James McGinn’12 for a 30-20 advantage. Up six tries to four with only a few ticks remaining on the clock, a pressing URI threw an errant pass which was picked up and moved to Travers, who’d just traded in his ski boots for rugby boots. Dow touched down for the final points of the match. The match was refereed by Jim Rogers
First XV Squad
1. Bob Forrester’10 2. Jay Smith’10 replaced by Dan Levine’10 at half 3. John Hermansen’10 replaced by Christopher Carney’10 in the first half. 4. Rall Walsh’10 5. Ben Mossbarger’10 replaced by John Hermansen in the first half 6. Zach Long’13 replaced by David Dean’11 in the first half 7. Hao Li’10 8. Greg Karwaski’11 9. Dave Riley’10 replaced by Taylor Peak at half 10. Zehid Jethani’13 11. Sam Rabb’10 replaced in the second half by Dow Travers’11 12. Taylor Peak’12 replaced by Brad Arlington at half 13. James McGinn’12 14. Ian Clancy ’13 replaced by Han Lee’12 at half 15. Rob Powell’11
Seconds Prevail
The Seconds match started off strong for Brown as flyhalf Brad Arlington’10 reversed direction off a scrum and went over the line for a try and a 5-0 Brown lead. URI attempted to come back but were twice held up in goal by Brown. With a strong defense and the “sin binning” of a URI player, Brown’s defense was solid in the first half. With 7 minutes left in the half, hooker Jay Smith took a pass from a ruck to score Brown’s second try The half ended 10-0. Everyone seemed on the same page as evidenced by a number of well executed rucks and ball movement. Zach Long (miraculously healed from his firs XV injury due to excellent medical attention by team trainer Amanda Moran) received a ruck pass at full pace. His timing proved too much for URI as he too was able to put another 5 points up on the score. With only a short time remaining, URI was able to find some redemption as they scored the final try of the day. The second XV match ended 15-5, Brown on top. The match was refereed by coach Danny Saccoccio.
Second XV Squad
1. Ryan Drebin’13 2. Jay Smith’10 3. Mike Donnell’12 4. Ian Field’13 replaced by Nathan Bishop’13 at half 5. Martin Bell’11.5 replaced by Mike Wharton’12 at half 6. Brian Kelly’13 replaced by Cory Freeland’13 at half 7. Gabe Heiderich’10 8. Zach Long’13 9. Dave Riley’10 replaced by Taylor Peak’12 at half 10. Brad Arlington’10 11. Dow Travers’11 replaced by Ben Kwak’12 12. John Goddard’13 13. Ted Orf’12 replaced by Carlo Liquido’12 14. Han Lee’12 replaced by Tokiso Sato’12 15. Ian Clancy’13 Seen in the crowd were rugby alums Adam Emerich and John Gherardini,. Thanks go out to Warren “Turkey” Boothman who attended the game as one of the URI coaches. Brown next meets Southern Connecticut University at Brown on Saturday, March 13. Kickoff will occur at 12 Noon with two matches scheduled. The matches will be played on the field turf behind the Olney Margolies Athletic Center located at the intersection of Hope Street and Lloyd Avenue on the Brown Campus. We hope to see you this weekend.
Contact: Jay Fluck, Director of Rugby, Brown University
Email: Jay [dot] Fluck
cbre-ne [dot] com