POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (October 4, 20090 -- It was good to be back at the Farm. The Vassar men have played 4 road games this year and this contest against Seton Hall was their first home game of the season. The Metropolitan New York Rugby Conference is much improved on previous years and Vassar needed a win to get back in the playoff hunt. Seton Hall and Vassar had a great game last year with the Brewers winning 43-34 in New Jersey. This game was another high scoring affair with 10 tries in all and the home crowd was entertained for the entire 80 minutes.

Vassar College Men 43 v Seton Hall University Men 22
Tries: Adam Steel (1), Iain Gordon (2), James Purtle (1), Kevin Frodell (1), Garrett Montgomery (2).
Cons: James Purtle (4).

The weather was wonderful and the warm sunshine ensured a big crowd for this divisional game. Vassar displayed a real urgency about their play and right from the kick-off they won ball and forced their way into the Seton Hall 22. The first scrums looked solid and number 8 Iain Gordon was able to get over the gain line to pressure the defense. After a couple of quick rucks Adam Steel dived in for a score and Vassar led 5-0.

After one early run Gordon went down heavily and it looked as if he might be done for the day but he managed to continue. It was good for Vassar that he did because he had a strong day in the lineouts and in the loose.  He scored the second try after about 10 minutes and Vassar led 12-0 after James Purtle had added the extras.

Seton Hall showed that they had a good pick and go game as their forwards punched up field but they were a little loose when they moved the ball wider. James Purtle picked off a wayward pass and a couple other passes went to ground. This allowed Vassar to gain valuable yards.

Back in the Seton hall 22 after about 25 minutes from a scrum on the left Vassar moved the ball right and James Purtle went over to make it 19-0. Seton Hall, stung by these 3 scores, picked up the pace and marched down to the Vassar 22. Their forwards ran hard and after multiple phases near the Vassar line they eventually scored. But Vassar had made them work hard and repelled them a number of times. The try itself came from a scrum with the number 10 going blind. He should have been stopped by flanker Kornel Krysa and wing Paul Tkaczuk. But they allowed him through and it was 19-5. Vassar responded but missed a penalty from right in front of the posts. But the Brewers did have the next say in the half as Kevin Frodell went over in a driving maul. The Vassar forwards were gaining in confidence with every minute. The lineouts were going well. Rhys Bambrick, Kevin Frodell, and Barrington Archer were solid in the scrums and the rucks were quick. Behind the scrum Garrett Montgomery was his usual cheeky self and before the day was done he would garner 2 tries for the team.  Just before the half Seton Hall got a try from close quarters and it finished 24-10.

In the second 40 minutes Vassar scored 3 tries to Seton Hall's 1. What was important was that the Brewers scored first in that second period to deny the Hall any real hope of a comeback. Iain Gordon went over near the posts to put Vassar up 29-10 and then Montgomery got the first of his 2 tries and it was 36-10.

Vassar had their tails up now and they continued to tackle and keep Seton Hall on the back foot. There were other highlights in the second half as Kendall Coleman made a great cover tackle to slow what looked a certain try and fullback Roku Fukui finished it off blasting the hall player into touch. Stefan Schwartz and Purtle tackled well in the centers throughout the game and Connor O'Neill was back better form distributing quickly from a flat position.

It was good to score from set piece and the team's urgency and commitment was critical to their success.

Team: 15 Sam Woodle 14 Kendall Coleman 13 James Purtle 12 Stefan Schwartz 11 Paul Tkaczuk 10 Connor O'Neill 9 Garrett Montgomery 1 Rhys Bambrick 2 Kevin Frodell 3 Barrington Archer 4 Tyler Blake 5 Joe Karpman 6 Kornel Krysa 7 Adam Steel 8 Iain Gordon.  Subs: C.J. Le Sueur for Joe Karpman, Roku Fukui for Sam Woodle, Conor Boylan for Kendall Coleman, Ian Ruginski for Kornel Krysa.

Overall record 2008-09: 2-2-1.
Next weekend: Saturday October 4, 2009 versus Iona College, kickoff 1:00 pm.

Vassar College Men "B" 0 v Seton Hall University Men "B" 15

The first half of this "B" game was a closely fought contest and Vassar had plenty of ball to pressure their opponents. But they did not turn possession into points and that was to prove their downfall in the end.

The forwards more than held their own and with Conor Boylan at flyhalf in a bid to make a comeback it seemed Vassar would have an edge. But a couple of chances were missed and the visitors managed a try to take a 5-0 lead.

Although Seton Hall scored 2 more tries there was little to choose between the teams. Ian Ruginski ran strongly and tackled hard as did Adam Kardon and Nic Placeres in the centers. They will all have big days in the future if they continue to improve. Unfortunately, Boylan had to leave the game but should be all right next weekend. Matt Elisofon had some strong runs on the right wing. What he lacks in pace he makes up for with effort and strength.

Team: 15 Roku Fukui 14 Matt Elisofon 13 Adam Kardon 12 Nic Placeres 11 Nick Campell-Seremetis 10 Conor Boylan 9 Kris Adkins 1 Joe Karpman 2 Hal Moore 3 Gui Farias 4 C. J. LeSueur 5 Andrew Massey 6 Alan Kenney 7 Sam Thomas 8 Ian Ruginski. Subs: Adam Steel for Conor Boylan, Tyler Blake for C. J. LeSueur, Kevin Frodell for Joe Karpman.