PROVIDENCE, RI (April 5, 2008) -- Brown University had played 7 games this spring prior to the match-up with Vassar today. They toured the Cayman Islands and were in confident mood having defeated Norwich University yesterday. Vassar had played and defeated Albany in mid-week so they too had high expectations. It seemed that winter had returned to the Northeast as a very cold wind blew in from the water as the Ivy Leaguers took on the Seven Sister college.

Vassar College Men 34 v Brown University Men 17
Tries: James Cantres (2), Jeff Rubesin (1), Garrett King (1), Connor O'Neill (1).
Cons: Jake London (3).
Pens: Jake London (1).

Vassar kicked off, stole the ball, and went through several phases, two scrums, and a lineout before James Cantres punched over the line. Brown had kicked the ball once but basically hadn't touched the ball and it was Vassar in the lead 7-0. These were crucial points as Vassar was playing into the teeth of the strong wind and subsequent kicks would pin them deep in their own half.

From the restart Vassar again kept possession and with the aid of a couple of penalties found themselves inside the Brown 22 with the ball at a lineout. It was driven but stopped and then after a couple of phases hooker Jeff Rubesin stretched out for a try in the tackle. Jake London converted and it was now 14-0.

It had been the perfect start for the visitors and it not only gave them a good lead but it sowed seeds of doubt in the minds of the Brown players. Brown did get on the score sheet with a penalty goal to make it 14-3 but that was to be all the scoring in the first half.

The remaining 20 minutes of the first half bore witness to some staunch Vassar defense as Brown kicked deep and then tried to pound the ball over. But Vassar either poached the ball in close and counter-attacked or Brown dropped the ball or gave away a penalty. It was fun to watch for one felt that if Brown scored they would garner momentum and in such a close game the tide might turn. But the Vassar players tackled like they were in the last minutes of a cup-tie trying to preserve a 3-point lead!

So at the half it 14-3 and now Vassar had the wind at their backs. Could the Brewers use it to their advantage or would Brown keep the ball in hand and establish a lead? The Vassar cause was dealt a harsh blow when flanker Matt Wise was sin-binned and Vassar was reduced to 14 men for 10 minutes.

Brown attacked but the Vassar defense held and when the ball was knocked-on Vassar had the scrum. The Brewers, with Garrett King and Chris Magnani on song at the base of the scrum and the front five starting to gain ascendancy up front, began to turn the screws on Brown.

Brown would kick to clear their lines but the Vassar back three of O'Neill, Fayyaz, and Schwartz dealt very well with all the clearance attempts and counter-attacked strongly.

Fifteen minutes into the second half Garrett King picked up and went open from a scrum 10 yards out and it was 19-3. Then minutes later Rubesin took a ball against the head and king linked with O'Neill and the left-winger showed the defense a clean pair of heels to score in the corner.

Sensing that the game was getting away from them at 24-3, Brown rallied only to meet the same stubborn defense and the big boot of Jake London. Vassar applied a killer blow with just 15 minutes left when James Cantres seemed to glide sideways causing tacklers to miss and went over for a 31-3 lead.

Down but not out the home team scored two converted tries that made it 31-17 before Jake London kicked a penalty goal to make the final 34-17 and a solid Vassar victory.

Thanks are due Vassar Alumni Aaron Gilson and Andrew Abshere for making the trip down from Boston to support the team - true fans both!

Team: 15 Stefan Schwartz 14 Omar Fayyaz 13 Jake London 12 James Cantres 11 Connor O'Neill 10 Conor Boylan 9 Chris Magnani 1 Winston Clement 2 Jeff Rubesin 3 Dan Kalmus 4 Nick Mason 5 Rupert Johnson 6 Luke Parker 7 Matt Wise 8 Garrett King. Subs: Garrett Montgomery for Chris Magnani.

Overall record 2007-08: 11-3-0.

Next: Sunday April 13, 2008 at Montclair State kickoff 1:00 pm.

Vassar College Men "B" 10 v Brown University Men "B" 17
Tries: Garrett Montgomery (1) & Eric Schub (1).

This was a close one from start to finish. If Vassar had used the wind in the first half to better advantage they might well have earned a win. As it was they fluffed a couple of chances here and there and Brown prevailed.

But there were quite a few highlights. Iain Gordon continues to play well. He is a sure tackler, no doubt in part due to his history of tackling Yaks in Mongolia - fact not hyperbole! In addition Garrett Montgomery fared well at halfback and scored the team's first try. The forwards as a whole functioned quite well with each having good individual moments. Senior Eric Schub is ruing the fact that he did not play rugby for the past 3 and a half years. He had a stormer, making tackles, running through tacklers, and was rewarded with a well-deserved try.

Next weekend the Vassar seniors will step aside as the team plays Montclair State and a Vassar lineup that may well be used in the Fall will be on the paddock. We shall see if they can produce a good performance without that senior leadership.

Team: 15 Danny Thomas 14 Mike Ilardi 13 Aly Massoud 12 Nick Schmidt 11 Richard So 10 David Fried 9 Garrett Montgomery 1 Rhys Bambrick 2 Kevin Frodell 3 Eric Schub 4 Dave Chase 5 Mario Arthur-Bentil 6 Will Thanhauser 7 Iain Gordon 8 Anshu Uppal. Subs: Davis Wang for Anshu Uppal, Nate Orians for Rhys Bambrick, Peter Canino for Mike Ilardi.