Brown Overtakes Harvard This Time Around

Brown defeated Harvard 26-14 but had all it could handle this time around. With a 5:00 P.M. kick off on lighted field turf on a cool calm fall evening, Harvard was keen to make up for Brown’s dominant win three weeks ago and played hard physical rugby for 80 minutes.

The Crimson, when near the Brown line, could not convert the territorial advantage to points while Brown, in spite of lots of handling miscues was able to score when they got close to the goal line. Brown lock Alex Lipinsky scored twice in the first half, running off a ruck for the first try and diving over the line from a pile up at the Harvard goal line just before halftime for his second try. Between these two scores Brown wheeled a Harvard scrum and scrum half Matt Leonard opportunistically pick up the loose ball and scored. Harvard, on the other hand, throughout the match worked very hard to get into the Brown “red zone” only to get penalized or lose possession to the Brown defense.

Brown made some exciting and well executed backline breaks in the second half but the team was unlucky to score only one try as a backs couldn’t finish off the moves without error. The one second half try, however, was well executed as the forwards created space and the backs flawlessly (this time) move the ball to center Dan Tonderys who gave Brown a lead that Harvard could not close. Harvard did maintain its pressure and presence and was able to score a converted try with 7 minutes left in the match, but Brown’s defense held for the win.

Referee: Paul McCloskey

First XV
Scoring Summary
Brown Try Alex Lipinsky, 5-0
Brown Conversion Scott Fielding, 7-0
Brown Try Matt Leonard, 12-0
Brown Conversion Scott Fielding, 14-0
Harvard Try, 14-5
Harvard Conversion, 14-7
Brown Try AlexLipinsky, 19-7
Brown Conversion Scott Fielding, 21-7
Half: Brown 21 - Harvard 7

Brown Try Dan Tonderys, 26-7
Harvard Try, 26-12
Harvard Conversion, 26-14
Final: Brown 26 - Harvard 14

First XV Squad

1. Micah Baclig’14
2. Daniel Levine-Spound 12.5
3. Everett Epstein’13, replaced in second half (temporarily) by Reed Blair’14
4. Kavin Nunez,’14
5. Alex Lipinsky’13
6. Zach Long’13
7. Rob Bentlyewski’13
8. Joe Daou’14
9. Matt Leonard ‘14
10. Colin Schofield’15
11. James McGinn’12.5
12. Dan Tonderys’14
13. Ryan Jones’14
14. Scott Fielding’14
15. Zahid Jethani’13

Brown Second XV v. Harvard Second XV

Brown’s Second XV was defeated by Harvard 34-21. This largely rookie team made another leap in team development and played Harvard even in the first half but gave up two tries for a 10-0 deficit at halftime. As the second half got underway, number eight, Connor Flexman was able to make two spectacular breaks of 60 and 50 yards for tries. Both scores were converted by veteran fly half Blair Cameron and Brown briefly led 15-14.

Harvard had too many experienced players and scored four tries (with two converted) to wipe out the Brown lead and go up 34-14. However, the Bears, as the game wound down worked their way into Harvard territory, where Flexman again found space and ran in a late score with Cameron converting to end the match on a positive note.