POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (April 10, 2010) -- With just minutes remaining, the Vassar College men's rugby team notched the go-ahead try against Western Connecticut State on Saturday at the Farm, and the Brewers held off the visitors in the waning minutes to earn a 27-24 victory.

The last time the Vassar Men played at Western Connecticut the Brewers won but paid a heavy price. Kenny Whitebloom and Rupert Johnson went to hospital and it was a game marred by violence and poor sportsmanship. But both teams put that memory behind them and combined for a close thrilling game that went right down to the final minutes. Rookie Zach Wasser scored the winner but there had been a huge effort from the whole squad. Even those players who did not get to play today are making an impact through their hard work at practice.

Vassar College Men 27 v Western Connecticut State University Men 24
Tries: James Purtle (2), Iain Gordon (1), Conor Boylan (1), & Zach Wasser (1).
Cons: Brett Anker (1).

It was a solid start for Vassar as they jumped ahead 12-0 after 15 minutes of play. They kicked off and applied early pressure in the West Conn 22 and James Purtle went over following a simple misdirection after a scrum had been won. Not long afterwards Iain Gordon took a quick tap penalty and dived in to make it 12-0 after a good conversion by fullback Brett Anker.

West Conn had a strong scrummage but followed their hit with an immediate drive so was guilty of pushing before the ball was put in. They were less effective when required to hold the mark by referee Noel Mara. Mara had an excellent game and both teams were full of praise for his efforts at the end. His skillful refereeing contributed significantly to the exciting back and forth game.

Down by 12 the Connecticut team responded with a simple try from a scrum when they went blind. Flanker Ian Ruginski was a little slow to react and novice wing Zach Wasser was lost in defense. West Conn's number 9 fed the right wing and he went over to make it 12-5. The summer like conditions and the willingness of both teams to run the ball meant that the spectators were in for a real treat.

Vassar spent the next 20 minutes in the West Conn half and did so courtesy of some good kicking by Brett Anker and Conor Boylan. While not every kick was perfect West Conn were pushed back and unable to counter-attack. The strong breeze in Vassar's favor also meant that any West Conn kicks were short and ineffective and they could not get away from their 22.

So was completely against the run of play that West Conn levelled the scores. From a scrum on the left hand side of the field at the West Conn 22 Vassar tried to run down the blindside. But the pass from Gordon to Adkins was bobbled and fell to ground. West Conn swooped and with good support they sprinted a full 75 yards and it was 12-12.

But Vassar would have the last say of the half and it was an emphatic statement from flyhalf Conor Boylan. From a scrum on the right the Vassar senior ran across and dummied a pass to inside center James Purtle coming on a switch. Boylan swerved around both the 10 and 12 and then straightened up to get in behind the defense. He then dummied the fullback and sprinted for the right corner and a spectacular individual try. Vassar deservedly led 17-12, but would be playing into the wind in the second half.

In that second half the Vassar front 5 began to assert their authority and they consistently drove West Conn's scrummage back. This in the end was to prove crucial to the outcome for it meant that Vassar stole some ball, or what ball West Conn obtained at scrums was disrupted and difficult. Vassar scored the all important first try in the second half after about 5 minutes. Two poor clearance kicks were returned by Anker and Wasser and they worked the ball to James Purtle in space. The Vassar number 12 chipped ahead and then got a good bounce to score and it was 22-12. It looked like Vassar had some breathing space.

However, things became a little disjointed for the Brewers. Novice outside center Ken Wolkin went off with a mild concussion so Russell Webner came on and then a couple of silly penalties allowed West Conn to get close to the Vassar goal line. From a short range penalty, following a high tackle by #C.J. LeSueur#, the West Conn prop powered over as he was tackled by the diminutive Kris Adkins. Adkins made a brave tackle but suffered a cut to his scalp as the West Conn player clipped him with his cleat as he was brought down. On to the field came Adam Kardon to play on the wing with Conor Boylan moving to flyhalf, Placeres to 12, and James Purtle handling the role of decision maker at 10. Although up 22-19 Vassar was unable to open up a wider gap.

Iain Gordon managed to steal West Conn throws at the lineout and Vassar made good territory but then a penalty would mean lost yards. Gordon was having a stormer of a game and when Hal Moore stole a tighthead Gordon took off with Boylan and Wasser outside him in support. A simple pass to Boylan and it would have been 5 points but the number 8 held on and then was tackled at the line and the ball went forward!

Another opportunity went begging as James Purtle slipped through and was brought down 10 yards from the line in front of the posts. Adam Steel, also playing really well, was there in support but he off-loaded to a West Conn player and not a multitude of Vassar players wider out. It was agonizing stuff and still just 3 points separated the teams.

West Conn had managed to stay in the game and then from a mid-field ruck on the halfway line the ball was slow to come back on their side. The Vassar defense was set up with 6 defenders looking at 4 West Conn attackers and there seemed no real threat. But the West Conn winger, who took the ball at first receiver, went in between Ruginski and Purtle and showed everyone a clean pair of cleats to give the visitors a 24-22 lead. It appeared that Vassar had let this one slip away.

To add to their worries fullback Anker pulled a hamstring and so as a last ditch effort to win the game Stefan Schwartz came on at 15. The senior co-captain is still nursing a bad shoulder but his experience was to prove crucial. He made a lovely line break and dealt with everything West Conn launched at him.

The final 10 minutes was scintillating stuff as Vassar threw everything at West Conn. Time and again the home team won rucks and attacked, sometimes with the forwards and then with the backs. Any West Conn clearance kicks were returned with interest. From a short range penalty Adam Steel was held up and C.J. Le Sueur then penalized as he tried to ground the ball. Adam Kardon made a huge run up the right flank following a Boylan pass and Zach Wasser had two strong counter-attacks but the West Conn defense held!

Then came the dramatic finish. From a lineout on the West Conn 10 meter line on the left, the ball went down the line to Nic Placeres playing 12 now. He sliced through but was tackled. The ruck was won on the far right as Placeres had drifted wide and the ball came back to Boylan at 9. Left wing Zach Wasser was at 10 with fullback Schwartz and Purtle outside him as Vassar looked to move the ball back to the left. He was facing a West Conn defensive line that consisted of forwards so he just took off to outflank them all running diagonally at real pace. Outflank them he did before having to cut inside the fullback to dive over and score! Vassar was up 27-24 with a few more minutes to play.

West Conn attacked frantically and the Vassar defense held. The roar from the big crowd as the final whistle blew could no doubt be heard in Fishkill and probably even in Danbury!

Team: 15 Brett Anker, 14 Nic Placeres, 13 Ken Wolkin, 12 James Purtle, 11 Zach Wasser, 10 Conor Boylan, 9 Kris Adkins, 1 Tyler Blake 2 Hal Moore, 3 Barrington Archer, 4 Andrew Massey 5 C.J. Le Sueur 6 Ian Ruginski 7 Adam Steel 8 Iain Gordon. Subs: Russell Webner for Ken Wolkin, Adam Kardon for Kris Adkins, Stefan Schwartz for Brett Anker.

Next: Sunday April 18, 2010 versus Marist College Men KO 11:00 a.m.
Overall record 2009-10: 4-10-1.