Brown Wrecks Bentley
After a serious week of practice, Brown made amends for the previous week’s loss, defeating Bentley College 39-19. Bentley, generally a good side, had not been outside this season and the rust was obvious in Bentley’s scrums, lineouts and backline moves which need work, and where Brown was superior. However, Bentley exposed Brown’s inconsistent ruck support with good poaching, and Brown’s shoddy tackling with 19 points. However, on a picture perfect 75 degree day, the match was able to be played at Marvel Field on real grass (with posts) and excellent field conditions.
Providence, Rhode Island Bentley drew first blood, intercepting a Brown pass and scoring an unconverted try for a 5-0 lead in the first ten minutes of the first half. Fifteen minutes later outside center James McGinn’12 made a nice break into Bentley territory. The ball was quickly recycled to flanker Hao Li’10 and then recycled again to McGinn, who made the final pass to wing Sam Rabb’10 for the equalizer. Rabb’s conversion put Brown up 7-5. With ten minutes left in the first half. Brown won a lineout. Fly half, Zahid Jethani’13 saw the Bentley backs were flat and chipped a kick over the defense and in goal where Rabb was there to touch the ball down, putting Brown on top 12-5 at halftime.
With the wind at Brown’s back in the second half, the result was never really in doubt as Brown controlled field position and the tempo of the match, scoring 5 times. Five minutes into the second half, Li blocked a kick and, from the ensuing ruck, hooker Dan Levine-Spound’12 ran the ball over the line for 5 points, with Jethani adding a two point conversion. With Brown now comfortably ahead 19-5, Brown lost its focus only a minute later while trying to clear the ball in defense. Jethani had the ball stripped from him for a Bentley try, and suddenly Brown’s lead was reduced, 19-12. Within 10 minutes Brown, with a scrum at the Bentley 5 meter line, ran a nice backline move, putting fullback R.L. Powell’11 through for a try and a 24-12 lead. Another 10 minutes had Brown again at Bentley’s 5 meter line where Bob Forrester’10 bulled ahead from a ruck, leaving the ball for flanker Rall Walsh’10 to score and raising Brown’s lead to 29-12. In the final 14 minutes of the match, Jethani put left wing Taylor Peak’12 away for a 15 meter sprint to the left corner, score 34-12. Brown gave up a converted try to Bentley to close to 34-19, but at full time, Brown drove a lineout 10 meters over the goal line where Li scored Brown’s final 5 points.
Six players scored Brown’s seven tries with but two conversions. The match was refereed by Bridget Tannian
First XV Squad
1. Mohammed Abdallah’11 replaced in the second half by Jay Smith’10 2. Dan Levine’12 3. Bob Forrester’10 4. Ben Mossbarger’10, replaced in the second half by Ian Fields’12 5. Mike Wharton’12 6. Rall Walsh’10 7. Hao Li’10 8. Zach Long’13 9. Dave Riley’10 . 10. Zehid Jethani’13 11. Sam Rabb’10 replaced in the first half by Taylor Peak’12 12. Brad Arlington’10 13. James McGinn’12 14. Han Lee’12 replaced at halftime by Blair Cameron’12 15. Rob Powell’11
Seconds Win Again
Brown’s Second XV with many players having gotten some first XV match time was able to take control after a close first half and win going away, 17-5 Brown scored first as fly half Blair Cameron’12 took a quick penalty to a ruck where it was moved to the backs, allowing wing Brad Arlington’10 to score. Bentley evened the match, with a try 5 minutes later, which stood up for the rest of the half. Midway through the second half a series of solid Brown rucks created a Brown overlap and the ball went to fullback Emmanuel Steg’12 for a Brown try and a 10-5 lead. Five minutes later, from a midfield scrum, number 8 Dan Rabb’10 fed scrum half Dave Riley’10 who passed to wing R.L. Powell’11 who beat the defense for Brown’s final try. Cameron kicked the conversion for Brown’s final points. With at least 13 players out for the day with injuries or other commitments, these two wins were a victory for the squad and their week’s work. The match was refereed by Brown coach Danny Saccoccio.
Second XV Squad
1. Dan Levine-Spound’12 2. Jay Smith’10 3. Mike Donnell’12 4. Ian Fields’12 5. Martin Bell’11.5 6. Brian Kelly’13 replaced at the half by Nate Bishop’13 7. Cory Freeland’13 8. Dan Rabb’10 9. Taylor Peak’12 replaced at the half by Dave Riley’10 10. Blair Cameron’12 11. Nick Donais’12 12. John Goddard’13 13. Emmanuel Steg’12 replaced at the half by Taylor Peak 14. Brad Arlington’10 replaced at the half by R.L. Powell’11 15. James McGinn’12 replaced at the half by Emmanuel Steg Brown departs for its Spring Break Tour to Bermuda on Friday, March 20 and will return on Saturday, April 3. Bermuda matches will be played on Saturday, March 27 against the Bermuda Police, on Monday, March 29 against the Bermuda Under 23’s and on Wednesday, March 31 against the Bermuda National Team. Come to Bermuda and cheer Brown on.
Contact: Jay Fluck, Director of Rugby, Brown University
Email: Jay [dot] Fluck
cbre-ne [dot] com