Brown Dominates Yale in Ivy Opener

New Haven, Connecticut -- Brown’s dominant scrum work set the stage for a strong performance on a sunny Saturday against Yale. The Bears scored 24 points in each half for a convincing 48-19 victory. The result was never in doubt as Brown, followed up each of Yale’s scores to battle back, with tries to extend its lead.

Brown’s backline offense did sputter as Yale defended aggressively, forcing some poor passes and decision making. However, Yale’s defensive mistakes created some long exciting Brown tries. Freshman hooker John Landers lead the Bears with a hat trick and kicker Colin Schofield, who only converted twice against Norwich, missed only two of seven conversion attempts and converted a second half penalty attempt.

The backline was relatively quiet this week with only wing Nick Keeling scoring. He also made several long runs that kept Brown in Yale territory.

The first ten minutes were all Brown as the Bears were overpowering at both offensive and defensive scrums and won all its lineouts. The march down the field was slow as the Yale team defended gamely, but too much pressure sent Ryan Jones into the corner of the try zone. Schofield’s kick from a wide angle was through. Lander’s then made a quick break for his first try.

Yale upped its defensive pressure, moving deep into Brown territory, and a Brown defensive lapse led to an unconverted Dalton Carr try resulting in Yale closing the score to 12-5. Two minutes later, wing Nick Keeling, torched Yale with a 40 meter score and with the conversion, Brown was now up 19-5. A Yale penalty put flanker Rob Bentlyewski over the line for a 24-7 halftime lead.

Due to a Brown “yellow card” at the start of the second half, Brown was short a player for 10 minutes and paid the price as Yale's Dalton Carr scored a converted try to close Brown’s lead to 24-14.

But over the next 11 minutes, John Landers scored twice and Colin Schofield converted both tries and added a penalty kick for a 41-12 lead.

Brown conceded a Yale converted try fifteen minutes later, but then number 8 Joe Daou ran in from 30 meters and, with the conversion, the match was Brown’s.

Scoring Summary

First Half

10th min -- try-Brown (Ryan Jones)   5-0
                   conversion by Colin Schofield 7-0
18th min -- try-Brown (John Landers) 12-0
28th min -- try-Yale (Dalton Carr) 12-5
30th min -- try-Brown (Nick Keeling) 17-5
                   conversion by Colin Schofield 19-5
38th min -- try-Brown (Rob Bentlyewski) 24-5

Halftime: Brown 24 - Yale 5

Second Half

44th min -- converted try- Yale (Dalton Carr) 24-12
48th min -- try- Brown (John Landers) 29-12
                  conversion by Colin Schofield 31-14
53rd min -- penalty kick-Brown (Colin Schofield) 34-14
65th min -- try- Brown (John Landers) 39-14
                   conversion by Colin Schofield 41-14
70th min -- converted try-Yale 41-21
73rd min -- try- Brown (Joe Daou) 46-21
                  conversion by Colin Schofield 48-19

Final Score: Brown 48 - Yale 19

Referee: Amelia Lucciano