Columbia over Cornell 29-0 at the half, final 41-12
Columbia scores 29 first half point to nil, then hung on to defeat Cornell 41-12. Derek Lipscomb scored the first three trys of the contest and Columbia never looked back. Tim Nesmith, then Bobby McMahon scored to round out the Lions first half try scoring. Tim Nesmith yet scored another try. Anogie Joseph-Erameh scored the last try of the match with Evan Platt converting.
New York, NY - Paced by the three first half tries of All-Ivy flanker Derek Lipscomb, Columbia went out to a 29-0 halftime lead on its way to a 41-12 victory over Cornell. To their credit, Cornell fought back in a second half where each team scored 12 points.
With the victory, Columbia secured home field and the right to host the Ivy Wildcard playoffs, as the bonus-point win put them past Harvard for 2nd. Dartmouth will not participate in the playoffs because they will be playing in the USA Rugby College Premier League this spring.
Columbia’s first try came in the fifth minute when Lipscomb raced 70 meters for a try that center Evan Platt converted, 7-0. Lipscomb’s second try came on a 40 meter run in the 16th minute (12-0) and his third in the 27th when Cornell fumbled possession five meters from its line and Lipscomb pounced for the corner try, 17-0.
Columbia lock Tim Nesmith scored the first of his two tries in the 31st minute when he scored from loose play inside Cornell’s five, 22-0.
Cornell was reduced to 14 men in the 34th minute following a dangerous tackle and Columbia #8 Bob McMahon scored from a scrum near Cornell’s line four minutes later. Evan Platt’s second conversion brought Columbia’s halftime tally to 29-0.
Second Half
A rejuvenated Cornell side dominated play early in the second half and was rewarded with a try by lock Neil Murphy 13 minutes after the restart, 29-5.
Cornell’s second score came in the 24th minute when they were awarded a penalty try following a dangerous tackle on Columbia’s goal line. Ben Krenzer’s conversion cut Columbia’s lead to 29-12.
Awakened by Cornell’s resurgence, Columbia picked up the pace and was rewarded in the 38th minute when lock Tim Nesmith crashed over for his second try from a ruck near Cornell’s line and Evan Platt converted, 36-12.
Columbia’s Anogie Joseph-Erameh closed the show with a try in the 43rd minute, bringing the final score to 41-12.
Columbia 41
Tries: Lipscomb 3, Nesmith 2, McMahon, Erameh
Convs: Platt 3
Cornell 12
Tries: Murphy, Penalty
Convs: Krenzer
Columbia Tweets
Welcome to the last weekend of regular season Ivy Rugby!
This week the Lions will look to defeat Cornell at Randall's Island.
Columbia starts the game off kicking to Cornell. The game is on.
Both teams are fired up and hitting hard. Neither has a definite advantage yet.
Derek Lipscomb smashes through the Cornell line and takes it 60 yards for a Lions try.
Evan Platt converts to make it 7-0.
Cornell lineout on the Lions ten. Columbia is looking for a stop.
They get it, driving Cornell back to midfield. It's still Cornell's ball, though.
They get the stop. Lipscomb takes a quick restart for a penalty and scores another forty plus yard try. The conversion is wide. 12-0.
The Lions get the ball through the backline quickly and are close to scoring a third try, but at the last minute step out of bounds.
Columbia continues to methodically drive the Red back towards their try zone.
The Lions have been dictating game pace up to this point.
Lipscomb gets a hat trick off of a Lions scrum. 17-0.
The Lions again are in Cornell's 22.
Tim Nesmith scores another try for the Lions. 22-0.
Yellow card against Cornell. Columbia will look to capitalize on having the extra man.
Bobby McMahon runs in try number five for Columbia. The conversion is good. 29-0.
Halftime
The second half has started.
Not much has been going on as the ball remains between the forties.
Columbia lineout on the Cornell 15 looks promising.
Cornell scores a try. The conversion is no good. 29-5.
Cornell penalty try. The conversion is good. 29-12.
Tim Nesmith scores another try for the Lions. 34-12.
Evan Platt converts. 36-12.
Final converted try by Anogie Joseph-Erameh seals it for Columbia.