Brown - Princeton - All Tied Up

The Brown/Princeton game ended with a 15-15 tie after a highly defensive second half. Princeton’s Man of the Match went to Will Banes, a freshman from London. Victory in the developmental side match went to Brown.

This tale of two halves played out to a tie as Princeton dominated the first half and Brown came back swinging in the second half to even the score and came within a conversion of a victory. Princeton’s two first half tries were scored in the corner, providing little chance for conversions which Princeton missed, keeping the Princeton lead at 10 until Brown’s number 8, Alek Coben, scored from a penalty kick to end the half with Princeton ahead by only a converted try.

The match was played out on a superb, sunny and windless fall day with temperatures in the 70’s. Forward play in the first half saw the scrums battle evenly but Princeton was able to steal some key Brown lineouts and momentum close to the Princeton line. Both backlines made breaks but neither team had the closing speed to finish off an attack. This match was to be one of attrition, and, with Princeton ahead at the half, Brown’s outlook was not optimistic.

A third Princeton try at the start of the second half further eroded Brown’s prospects but the missed conversion kept Brown within reach. Brown suddenly seemed to find its energy with all 15 working at a high rate. Captain John Landers, playing inside center, broke through a backline gap for 35 meters, getting tackled a yard from the line. Brown won the ruck possession with prop Henry Richardson bulling in for the try, close to the posts. Coben’s conversion put Brown within 5 points with 22 minutes to play.

Brown Battles Back, Holds Line

Eleven minutes later Brown, again threatening the Princeton line, was awarded a scrum. Scrum half Joe Paolino, passed to #10, Tom Keelan who alertly went to the short side and passed to wing Calum McClelland who crashed over the line to even the score at 15. Coben’s conversion from the sideline was long enough but just wide to the left.

Princeton was showing signs of fatigue but at 60 minutes, Bear’s hooker, Pete Julian, was hit with a “yellow card” and sent off to the “sin bin” for 10 minutes. Playing a man short, Brown lost all of its offensive momentum and spent the time defending deep in its end, digging deep and denying another Princeton score. With Brown at full strength for the last 10 minutes, the momentum shifted back to Brown but the Bears were unable to score as time ran out.

Brown University Rugby - Match Tweets

• And we're off, as Brown takes on Princeton at Marvel Field 
• A break from Princeton after some aggressive back and forth results in a try, 5-0 Princeton following the missed conversion
• Huge cross-field break and try from The Tigers makes the score 10-0 Princeton
• Penalty kick attempt by Alek Coben is successful, making the game 10-3 Princeton at the half
• Brutal try line contest ends with another Princeton try. 15-3 Princeton following the missed conversion
• Brown brings it back with a smashing try by prop Henry Richardson. 15-10 Princeton after an Alek Coben conversion
• Fantastic play from wing Calum McClelland off a monstrous scrum makes the game tied, 15-15, following the missed conversion
• And the Brown/Princeton game ends 15-15 after a highly defensive second half. Great stamina from both teams

Tries

Brown – 2
Princeton - 3

Scorers

a. 10th Min – Princeton – try
b. 28th min – Princeton – try
c. 40th min – Brown – penalty kick – Alek Coben
d. 45th min – Princeton – try
e. 48th min – Brown – try – Henry Richardson
f.  48th min – Brown – conversion – Alek Coben
g. 59th min – Brown – try – Calum McClelland

Princeton visits Brown. The game takes place at 1 p.m. at the Brown Rugby Ground, across Elmgrove Avenue from the Brown University Football and Track Stadium and next to the Jewish Community Center, 401 Elmgrove Avenue, Providence, Rhode Island 02906.

Keys to the match: Brown

Brown will try and build on some of the success from the previous week against Columbia. There have been some moment of players within the team so cohesion will be a key factor to focus on as well as staying within our systems. The weather at this time does not appear to be a factor as temperatures are to be in the low 60's with sunny skies and no rain.

- David Laflamme

Other information  

The Brown Women play Quinnipiac at 11am and the Brown Football team plays Princeton at noon across the street from the rugby field so parking will be limited.