ANNADALE-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. - The Vassar College Men took a short trip up Route 9 for their first 2021-22 season game, where Bard College hosted them.
The effects of Covid-19 have meant no competition for 18 months, which has played havoc with club sports teams reducing roster sizes significantly. Hence, the Tri-State Conference decided that teams could combine players from other teams allowing a game of 15s to be played. The result would not count as a divisional game, but at least the opportunity for players to learn the game and get real game experience would be possible. Bard, combined with SUNY-Maritime College rookies and Vassar, had an opponent.
Vassar College Men 62 v 10 Bard/Maritime XV
Tries: Liam Manion (2), Tyler Harber (1), Ali Sadek (1), James Scarabino (1), Darby Waller (1), Carl Aller (1), Olly Skeet Browning (2), Bryce DiNardo (1),
Cons: Olly Skeet Browning (6).
Vassar scored ten tries, and Olly Skeet Browning successfully scored six conversions as the Brewers racked up 62 points. The field was lush, and conditions were perfect for running and handling, and eight players scored tries, with three forwards and five backs being the mix.
Liam Manion got the first two Vassar tries before the home team scored to make it 12-5. Then hard-working hooker Tyler Harber went over, as did his front-row colleagues Ali Sadek and James Scarabino. The close quarters picking game was paying dividends.
There were some classic rookie moments for both sides. Vassar fullback Carl Aller, who later in the game ran well to score, received a pass and was in his in-goal. He jogged across as the defensive pressure came up but then touched down the ball, thinking that a 22-meter drop out would follow. Vassar had carried the ball in, and so it was a scrum 5-meters out. Playing the ball on the ground was a visitor to the Vassar stats column, failing to build a defensive line across the field and looking in at the ruck was also among the transgressions.
Olly Skeet Browning is a silky runner at ten, and he was rewarded for his efforts with a couple of tries. Meanwhile, both Vassar centers scored along with fullback Aller. The runners will need to stay on their feet and compete much more strongly in the future. Merrick Rubenstein was flawless on the left-wing, while DiNardo had an outstanding defensive play as he dived onto a loose ball.
The Brewers will be much better for this run-out and hopefully will focus on getting back to basics for the home season opener next Sunday against SUNY-Oneonta at 2:00 pm.
Vassar College Men:Â 15 Carl Aller 14 Adam Vazquez 13 Bryce DiNardo 12 Darby Waller 11 Merrick Ruenstein 10 Olly Skeet Browning 9 Liam Manion 1 James Scarabino 2 Tyler Harber 3 Ali Sadek 4 Leon Moore 5 Alex Pappas 6 Brian Cuautle Garcia 7 Casey Draskovich 8 Zach Neri.
Overall record: 1-0
Next:Â Sunday, September 26, 2021Â
Vassar College Men versus SUNY-Oneonta Men at Vassar College Farm, KO 2:00 pm
