Hanrahan, Cummins and De la Cal lead Harvard 21 past Brown 13

Both Harvard and Brown were looking to put a win on the board and turn a 1-1 first weekend into a positive result. Each team scored twice during the contest. In the end it was Harvard's de la Cal kicking that provided the margin.  de la Cal booted 3 penalties and a conversion. Hanrahan and Cummins scored for Harvard, while Karwaski and McGinn dotted down for Brown. Jethani chipped in one penalty.

Providence, RI - Harvard came back from a 13-11 deficit with 20 minutes to play to post a 21-13 win over Brown. In so doing, Harvard’s record improved to 2-1 while Brown’s fell to 1-2.

Brown opened the scoring with a penalty kick by Jethani, but Harvard equalized when fullback Max de la Cal hit a penalty from 25 meter, 3-3.

Late in the half some sloppy Harvard tackling lead to a try by Brown’s Karwaski, 8-3. Quick to respond was Harvard’s freshman wing Brendan Hanrahan, whose try leveled the scores, 8-8.

Second Half
Harvard out scored Harvard 13-5 after the break, pulling away to a 21-13 victory. Harvard’s second half points came on a try by Jonathan Cummins, a conversion and two penalty goals by Max. de La Cal.

Brown’s only second half points came on a try by McGinn.

Commenting on the match Harvard coach David Gonzales said: “It was a phenomenal, spectator-worthy game - very technical and a well-played on a nice, wide field. The players really enjoyed it and I think the Harvard guys deserved the win. We ran well and supported each other.”

Match referee: Judah Boulet

Harvard 21
Tries: Hanrahan, Cummins
Convs: de la Cal
Pens: de la Cal (3)

Brown 13
Tries: Karwaski, McGinn
Pens: Jethani

Brown Writeup

Brown played Harvard even for 60 minutes, leading 13-8, but the Bears squandered two excellent scoring opportunities in the last twenty minutes while giving up a Harvard penalty and a converted try to lose a tough match 21-13. The field was in excellent condition on this sunny Saturday.

In the first half, the usually steady Sam Rabb’11 missed a penalty kick at 17 minutes. The match took on a sea change two minutes later, with co-captains Rabb and Andrew Alvarez’11 both off the field with match ending injuries. Flyhalf Zahid Jethani’13 kicked a Brown penalty for a Brown 3-0 lead, but it was clear that a number of young players would have to step up if Brown had a chance for victory, and they did with a valiant effort but a frustrating finish.

Harvard tied the match with a penalty kick at 21 minutes, but then within two minutes of halftime, center James McGinn’12 made a center break. After several Brown rucks, number 8, Greg Karwaski’11 went over for a try. Unfortunately, Brown immediately conceded a Harvard try for an 8-8 halftime score.

As the second half got underway, Brown gave away another 3 point penalty, but then Brown put together strong lineout possession, a  break by prop Mike Donnell’12, a ruck to Karwaski for 20 meters and then to Jethani and McGinn for the final 20 meters and Brown’s second try for a 13-11 lead.

Midway through the second half, Brown was dominating possession and had two lineouts within 10meters of the Harvard line. Harvard’s defense stiffened and turned back both Brown opportunities and the game began to turn as Harvard scored on a penalty kick to take a 14-13 lead. The bigger Harvard pack then moved methodically down the field and scored a converted try with only minutes remaining on the clock.