POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (April 14, 2013) - In the Fall, the Marist College Men's Rugby defeated Vassar twice in very close games with just a single score dividing the teams. This Spring encounter was no different and Vassar missed 3 penalties two of which were usually bankers. The same game pattern emerged with the Marist forwards dominating the scrum and then picking and driving around the fringes making yards. The considerably smaller Vassar pack fronted up but it's difficult to win games when the possession you obtain is scrappy and the collisions are being lost. Credit Marist for playing to their strengths but they will need to add at least one other string to their bow and rely on more than athleticism if they are to compete well at Nationals.

Vassar College Men 28  v 31 Marist College Men
Tries: Akeel St. Vil (1), Joe Karpman (1), Nick Graham (1), Jerry Dieudonne (1).
Cons: Nick Graham (4).

In the opening 10 minutes of this local derby match Marist showed a real drive and determination with their runners bursting upfield. They quickly established field position but the Vasar defense held and a couple of penalties allowed the home team to get away from their 22. Marist kicked deep from 10 and also showed some intent to move the ball in the backs but it was Vassar who had the first real opportunity to score. Nic Placeres at number 8 for the Brewers has really shown progress as a 8 and he had some lovely pick ups and runs. One early one led to good field position and Vassar later had a penalty but fullback Nick Graham missed in the windy conditions.

A real feature of the first 20 minutes was the ruthless tackling of the visitors but the Vassar runners did at least pick good lines and they were able to create another penalty opportunity but again Graham missed. It was a shame for Vassar but Marist needed no further invitation. Their first try after 22 minutes of play and came as a result of 3 or 4 offloads in contact. Marist were brimming with confidence and played with real zeal and enthusiasm. They were a shade lucky for their next score as a forward picked at the back of a ruck, ran into one of his own players and then barged between another two and ran in to score untouched. The successful kick made it 12-0. The celebrations and comments after that second try by one of the Marist team were arrogant and disrespectful and have no place in any sporting event.

Vassar responded well and had a period of pressure but despite 3 penalties in the opposition 22 was unable to score. Ball placement and rucking were poor and Marist cleared their line. But when flyhalf Akeel St. Vil delayed a pass he caught the defense sliding and he went in under the posts to make it 12-7. There was just a minute left in the half but Vassar did not deal well with the kick-off and turned the ball over. Marist battered away at the Vassar line and then when a penalty was awarded they swiftly moved the ball along their back line and scored because the Vassar defense had condensed and there was no width. A great time to score for Marist as the half ended 19-7.

For the second half Vassar would have the increasingly strong wind behind them and they decided to kick the ball deep and try to pin back Marist in their 22. The first 3 kicks were not deep or high enough if truth be told but although Marist gained possession they did result in a slight gain in territory. The fourth kick went behind the fullback and he made an awful clearance attempt with the ball going straight into the arms of Stoddard Meigs. But the freshman knocked it on and it looked like a try had gone begging. But moments later Joe Karpman picked and drove over to make it a 19-14 game. It seemed the momentum of the game had shifted in favor of the home team and with 20 minutes left there was plenty of time to score. A Number 8 break down the blindside saw Vassar get into the Marist 22 and only 10 yards short of the line.Vassar won good ruck ball and then moved the ball left only for St. Vil's pass to hit the ground as Stoddard Meigs fell over. It was scooped up by the Marist center who very deftly passed to a supporting player and he went 75 yards for a try. Marist now led 26-14. The try really took the wind out of Vassar's sails.

The situation got worse again for Vassar as the Marist forwards went back to their picking, driving and offloading game. They bashed their way upfield and got a good try to make it 31-14. Vassar responded well as Ian Ruginski came on for Louis Khourey. The Vassar captain has been out of action since the Spain Tour and it was good to have him get some game time. Vassar kept tackling and when they finally did get the ball their lineout which had woked well all day got some drive forward. This time the Vassar backs created a massive hole in the Marist defense and it was 31-21. Five minutes remained and buoyed by their good try the Brewers charged back into the Marist 22. Karpman went close and from a penalty the ball was moved to the right wing and Jerry Dieudonne scored, intelligently running closer for the kick, which Graham converted.

Two minutes left with the home team down 31-28. Vassar kicked deep and when the Marist fullback cleared the ball a host of players were offside but there was no time to kick to touch and use the effective Vassar lineout. So Nick Graham had a shot at kicking the penalty and while the ball had the distance it was just off to the right. It had been a highly entertaining game and a good runout for both teams. Marist deserved their win as they showed strong open field running power and good scrummaging.

Team: 15 Nick Graham 14 Jerry Dieudonne 13 Zach Kent 12 Eli Vargas 11 Jesse Myhill 10 Akeel St. Vil 9 Karl Foley 1 Joe Karpman 2 Alex Voynow 3 Roman Kopit 4 Zach Rippe 5 Louis Khourey 6 Eric Quinson 7 Alan Kenney 8 Nic Placeres. Subs: Stoddard Meigs for Eli Vargas, Kenta Hasui for Stoddard Meigs, Ian Ruginski for Louis Khourey.

Next: Saturday & Sunday April 20 & 12, 2013 Vassar College Men at The Beast of the East Tournament in Portsmouth, RI
Overall 2012-13 record: 9-8-0.

Vassar College Men "B" 15 v 21 Marist College Men "B"
Tries: Jacob Adelgren (1), Stephen Platz (1), Jake Sheehy (1).

The Vassar Men took some time to warm to the task of tackling their opponents and it allowed Marist to score two tries and lead by 14-0 before Vassar scored their first try. It was some strong running by Vassar's Jacob Adelgren staying low to the ground that made it 14-5. But it seems that when teams score they let their foot off the gas and Marist quickly took advantage and went up 21-5.

The Vassar scrum was functioning well and Kenta Hasui looks promising as a hooker. John Winton continues to do well in the loose as well and Jonathan Chu had a good game at Number 8.

Then came the Vassar fight back. Stoddard Meigs put foot to ball and the Marist fullback did well to catch it but was swamped by Vassar tacklers. Vassar had field position and could now exert some pressure of their own. Fullback Stephen Platz, who had shown some real pace in the first half counter-attacking, did so again and scored to make it 21-10. Then scrumhalf Jake Sheehy found his scoring form of the fall and he went over to make it 21-15 with 5 minutes left in the game. But Vassar just came up short and the Marist lads went home with a clean sweep.

But it had been great to see the players challenge for "A" side positions and the commitment was 100%.

Team: 15 Stephen Platz 14 Steven Juca 13 Brian Heil 12 Alejandro Dinsmore 11 Jacob Adelgren 10 Stoddard Meigs 9 Jake Sheehy 1 Eric Santacruz 2 Kenta Hasui 3 John Winton 4 Matt Brown 5 Ian Ruginski 6 Alan Kenney 7 Wade Crouch 8 Jonathan Chu. Subs: Nick Graham for Wade Crouch.