1st XV Brown Holds On to Defeat Princeton

Brown played well to score three first half tries against a physical Princeton side, but were unlucky not to put over another two tries when the Bears misfired close to the goal line. As was the case the day before against Penn, a strong wind was a big factor. Brown shut out Princeton with the wind, but the 19 point cushion was tested when the second half ensued.

Centers Dow Travers’12 and Taylor Peak’12 ran good lines, finding holes in the defense as they took passes from out half Zahid Jethani’13 for the first two tries. Clean offensive lineout possession allowed the Brown forwards to tie up Princeton’s loose forwards which created scoring space. Right wing James McGinn’12 converted both tries.

Brown’s scrums were dominant the entire game and lineouts were very good in the first half, but were inconsistent in the second half.

Brown’s last try of the half and, indeed, the match was a perfect lineout execution to the front of the lineout, putting hooker Dan Levind-Spound’12 over the line from 5 meters out from a pass from lock Landon Turley’12.

Princeton took the play to the Brown end early in the second half, but Brown was strong in defense and thwarted both forward and back attempts to score. Further, Brown took the attack several times to the Princeton end, only to end badly with a miscue that allowed Princeton to kick the ball back to the Brown end.

Princeton flyhalf Phil Halsey was able to put over a converted (Juan Mazzini) try by mid-period, but Brown had been able to knock 24 second half minutes off the clock. The match tightened markedly when Princeton Captain Spencer Ryan scored quickly three minutes later, giving the Tigers a big psychological boost with 13 minutes remaining, and needing a converted try to tie the match.

Brown didn’t threaten to score as the match wound down. The fatigue of the match caused both teams into untimely errors as the play see-sawed in mid-field. At the end Brown controlled the ball from a scrum and kicked to touch as time expired.

Brown co-captains Danny Levine-Spound and Dow Travers were well aware of how the team lost its shape a bit in the second half, but expressed pride in their team that won back to back must win matches.

Referee: John Coppinger

First Half
20th min try- Brown (Dow Travers) 5
conversion  (James McGinn)     2
28th  min try- Brown (Taylor Peak) 5                         
 conversion (James McGinn) 2               
34th min try- Brown (Dan Levine-Spound) 5
Halftime: 19 - 0

Second Half
64th min try- Princeton flyhalf Phil Halsey scores a try in the second half. Juan Mazzini makes the conversion to make the score 19-7
74th min try- Princeton Captain Spencer Ryan quickly scores another try. Conversion unsuccessful. 19-12 Brown  
Final: Brown 19 - Princeton 12