Columbia defeats Penn 41-10 at Franklin Field in Philadelphia

Penn started strong, despite an early sin bin, scoring a short-handed try by Nabil Darwich. Penn lost the lead then quickly got it back on a Darwich interception taking a 10-7 lead. The rest of the scoring belonged to Columbia who took a 15-10 lead into halftime before winning going away 41-10. 2009 All-Ivy Conor Russomano scored the last 2 trys of the match for the Lions.

By John O'Leary
Franklin Field, Philadelphia, Pa. - Coming off a 1-1 opening Ivy League weekend, the Columbia Lions were looking to refocus after a penalty-filled loss to Yale. They did so in a big way on Sunday, notching a 41-10 away win against the Penn Quakers. Columbia led 15-10 at halftime and the posted 26 unanswered points after the break.

The Lions started slowly, failing to take advantage of a booking that left Penn playing a man down after the fourth minute. Surprisingly, short-handed Penn drew first blood with an unconverted try by Nabil Darwich in the seventh minute, 5-0.

Columbia rebounded quickly, their backline showing a new-found chemistry that was lacking in previous matches against Harvard and Yale. Some nifty passing between flyhalf Minsoo Lyo, outside center Evan Platt, and inside center Greg Fontela ended with a Fontela try. Platt's conversion gave the Lions a 7-5 lead.

A picked off pass near Columbia’s twenty led to Nabil Darwich’s second try and a 10-7 Penn lead. Columbia, however, still ended the half with a 15-10 lead thanks to a penalty kick by Platt and an extended drive that ended with a try from flanker Peyton Bell.

Though Columbia's pack was once again dominant, the Lions were unable to put Penn away early on and were looking to make a statement after the break.

Second Half
The second half started slowly, as both sides stymied all attempts on their respective try zones. But the floodgates opened for Columbia following a try by number eight Derek Lipscomb.

Scrumhalf David Lynch got in on the action soon after, taking the ball from a ruck and running into the try zone.

Soon after, fullback Conor Russomano went sixty yards untouched for the Lions’ third try of the half. Platt converted two of the three tries, 34-10.

Russomano’s second try and Platt’s conversion brought the final score to 41-10.

The Lions win will provide them with some serious momentum going into next week's home game against Princeton.

Columbia 41
Tries: Fontela, Bell, Lipscomb, Lynch, Russomano (2)
Convs: Platt 4
Pens: Platt

Penn 10
Tries: Darwich (2)

Combined Columbia / Penn Tweets

Welcome back to another edition of Ivy League rugby.
Today's contest, Columbia-Penn, is about to begin.
Inclement weather forced schedulers to postpone the match until today, but besides a strong breeze conditions are ideal at Franklin Field.
Penn kicks off to Columbia and the game is underway.
A bodyslam earns Penn a quick booking. The Lions now are threatening with a 15-14 man advantage at the Penn ten.
Penn holds and the ball is back at midfield.
The Quakers turn the tables and are now within the Lions' five.
Penn's Nabil Darwich scores in the corner, 5-0 Penn
A beautiful series of give and goes between Minsoo Lyo and Evan Platt ends in a Greg Fontela try. Platt converts. 7-5.
Penn scores with a steal from Darwich, 10-7 Penn.
Evan Platt makes the twenty five yard kick for points. The game is now tied 10-10.
The Lions are repeatedly powering their way deep into Penn territory.
Peyton Bell caps off a long drive with a try. Platt's conversion is caught by swirling crosswinds and blown off course. 15-10.

The Lions go into the half up 15-10.

Lions kick off to start the second half.
No scoring yet. Ball on the Penn 15.
Derek Lipscomb scores again for the Lions. Platt converts. 22-10.
David Lynch takes the ball out of the ruck and scores it himself. The conversion is just wide right. 27-10.
The Quakers refuse to go quietly into the night and are threatening on the Columbia 30.
The Lions hold and march back down to the Penn 5. No new scores.
Conor Russomano scores for the Lions. The conversion is good. 34-10.
Russomano scores again Platt is good. 41-10.
Game over.

Final score: 41-10 Lions.

Prelude

Memorial Hall field is closed Saturday due to inclement weather. The match is rescheduled for Sunday at 3:00pm at Franklin Field.

Columbia started last weekend off with a huge win under the lights versus Harvard. On Sunday Yale was able to pull out a victory over the boys from NYC 21-10. Penn also has a 1-1 record after week one, losing to Dartmouth Saturday before coming back to beat Brown on Sunday afternoon by a margin of 40-24.

Both teams will try to bring their record up to 2-1 this weekend.