SOUTH ORANGE, NJ (October 26, 2008) -- Five lead changes, 12 tries, and in the end a 9-point win for the Vassar College Brewers. Both teams knew going into this contest, the final regular season game, that the winner would advance to the quarterfinals of the Northeast Rugby Union Championship. Simple, win or go home! Vassar came back from 24-10 down and later 34-29 to outscore Seton Hall 7 tries to 5 and win 43-34.

Vassar College Men 43 v Seton Hall University Men 34

Tries: Miles Fineburg (2), Kevin Frodell (2), Ryan Keeble (1), Aly Massoud (1), & Roku Fukui (1).
Cons: Adam Steel (4).

The regular season this fall in the Metropolitan New York Conference has seen a host of close games. Coming into this weekend the top 5 teams all had a chance of making the playoffs. Yesterday, Iona fell to Fairfield 24-7 and so Fairfield were top of the table. It also meant that a win for either Vassar or Seton Hall would see the victors advance as the second place team in the division.

Seton Hall had a big crowd on hand and the weather was perfect. A warm sunny day in South Orange, New Jersey, and two teams anxious to keep their season alive. The stage was set.

Vassar came out of the blocks at a blistering pace and the forwards were able to establish an edge. But Seton Hall put in some big hits and that got the crowd roaring approval. Tackle after tackle was made as Vassar tried to open their account but were repelled. Then Garrett Montgomery found some room down the narrow side and the ball was moved to winger Miles Fineburg who slithered over to make it 5-0.

Such was Montgomery's excitement that as Vassar resumed their pressure, he opted for quick taps when probably he should have kicked to touch. After 15 minutes Vassar again worked the ball to Fineburg and he duly went over and it was 10-0. The home crowd was stunned and the Vassar players were well pleased with themselves.

However, the next 15 minutes bore witness to a defensive display from Vassar that gave new meaning to the word sieve. There were more holes for Seton Hall to run through than the Beatles sung about on their famous album "Sergeant Pepper" where they referred to Blackburn, Lancashire! Seton Hall ran amok and scored 4 tries to make it 24-10 and now it was the Vassar touchline that was silent.
Vassar did eventually regain some composure and Kevin Frodell rumbled over from close range right at the end of the half to make it 24-15.

It was a pretty depressed huddle at the half, as what had started so well seemed in tatters. If Vassar didn't tackle and control the ball it was going to be a long afternoon.

But the Brewers did tidy up things and tackled better. Those improvements coupled with a lack of discipline from Seton Hall allowed the visitors to get back into the game. Seton Hall gave away too many penalties at the breakdown and referee Rob Perle, who always works well with the players, had no choice but to penalize the home team.

So 24-15 became 24-22 when, following a lineout, Vassar center Ryan Keeble slipped through the defense. Substitute, freshman Adam Steel, on for the injured Miles Fineburg coolly slotted the conversion and he would add a further 3 that would prove critical as Seton Hall fell behind. Frodell went over for his second and it was 29-24 to Vassar. But there was still 20 minutes left and as Seton Hall had shown in the first half they only needed that amount of time to score 4 times!

Seton Hall struck back and made it 31-29 in their favor and when they added a penalty 34-29 seemed a significant lead.

But Vassar kept plugging away and flyhalf Connor O'Neill made a nice break, which gave them good field position. Up front Iain Gordon was having a stormer and he ran well off the fringes. Scrumhalf Garrett Montgomery broke through and must have thought he had scored the winner but he dived over 5 meters short and was pinged for not releasing! Seton Hall heaved a collective sigh of relief but moments later Aly Massoud scored to give Vassar a 36-34 lead when he supported after a quick tap penalty.

It was a lead that Vassar never relinquished and they added a Roku Fukui try to cap an amazing comeback win and a playoff berth.

It was so fitting that after the game Charlie Williams (Class of '80) hosted a bar-b-que for the entire squad, family, alumni, and friends. His home is close to Seton Hall and he can continue to walk tall in the neighborhood. Thanks to Charlie and Lynne for their hospitality.

Team: 15 Omar Fayyaz 14 Miles Fineburg 13 Ryan Keeble 12 Nick Schmidt 11 Roku Fukui 10 Connor O'Neill 9 Garrett Montgomery 1 Winston Clement 2 Kevin Frodell 3 Rhys Bambrick 4 Mario Arthur-Bentil 5 Rupert Johnson 6 Aly Massoud 7 Anshu Uppal 8 Iain Gordon. Subs: Kaedin Jemiolo for Rhys Bambrick (B), Adam Steel for Miles Fineburg.
Overall record 2008-09: 5-3-0.
Next weekend: Northeast Rugby Union Quarterfinal at Middlebury - details to follow.
Vassar College Men "B" 0 v Seton Hall University Men "B" 34

It is tough to play after such an emotional first game but certainly the Vassar reserves gave it their all. The scrum was solid and the backs had their moments. But Seton Hall monopolized the ball and had a very effective pick and go game with their forwards. They broke tackles and showed the Vassar defense a clean pair of heels on a number of breakaways.

Adam Steel, playing his first game at scumhalf, performed some heroics. He ran and tackled himself to a standstill. He will probably be a quality number 9 given time and experience.

In the end Vassar never defended well enough nor garnered enough ball to earn a win.
Team: 15 Brian Carajal 14 Tony Pinggera 13 Omar Fayyaz 12 Stanislav Genchev 11 Kornel Krysa 10 Conor Boylan 9 Adam Steel 1 Barrington Archer 2 Hal Moore 3 Alex Koechlin 4 Dave Chase 5 Andres Guterriez 6 Anshu Uppal 7 Andrew Massey 8 Kaedin Jemiolo. Subs: Nick Schmidt for Omar Fayyaz, Kevin Frodell for Anshu Uppal, Rupert Johnson for Kaedin Jemiolo.