POUGHKEEPSIE, NY - Last year the Vassar men traveled to New Jersey and put in a solid performance against Seton Hall. winning 40-11 Vassar Scrumhalf on that day, and again on this grey damp fall afternoon, was Bryce DiNardo. His defensive work and determined running were major factors in both victories as the Brewers earned their first divisional win of 2023-24.

Vassar College Men 39 v 0 Seton Hall University
Tries: Jack Gibberd (1), T.J. Usher (2), Kaiden Tocher (1), Bryce DiNardo (1), Dimitrios Tzepos (1) & Olly Skeet-Browning (1).
Cons: Kiran Mullen (2).

A five-try first half saw the Brewers get off to a flying start. The team was focused and clear about their intent and being well led at 9 by DiNardo quickly got into stride. However, Seton Hall was also able to offer something in attack but on their first sortie into the in-goal the ball was dropped and Vassar's clean sheet was intact.

Jack Gibberd is really developing into a useful player at hooker and he was rewarded for his efforts with a try from close range. Vassar led 5-0 before rookie center TJ Usher was put through for his first and the team's second try of the match. Kiran Mullen duly converted and at 12-0 Vassar was in the driving seat.

Vassar flyhalf Olly Skeet-Browning, a name more fitting for an Oxbridge game, probed and challenged the Seton Hall defense and managed to make a couple of good line breaks. It's not the ideal recipe for success but it probably kept his opposite number honest.

Vassar's Number 8, Kaiden Tocher, on the back of a strong performance last week brought the sizable crowd to its feet when he picked and ran over from a full 70 yards out to give the Brewers a 17-0 lead. It was Usher once again who found running room in the smallest of seams and nipped in for a try, then it was the turn of that fella DiNardo to show the Pirates a clean pair of heels. He broke away only to be hauled down just short, but in text book fashion he was back on his feet and the supporting Vassar player, who had just picked, was able to make the ball available and deservedly DiNardo collected the 5 points. At the half the score stood at 27-0.

Vassar was immediately pinned in their own half for the opening portion of the second 40 minutes, however, Vassar was able to clear from deep on a number of occasions with some booming penalty kicks to touch from Skeet-Browning. It was just as well given the pressure they were under and the Brewers were able to draw breath.

Up front Benson Cao was doing his best impression of an NFL running back and eventually Vassar worked up to the Seton Hall 22. This was not only due to determined running but even more so the support at the rucks from Dimitrios Tzepos, Phil Knowlton and Matheo Dwyer. It was critical to maintaining possession.

There were a couple of flare ups as the less experienced players of the visitors threw themselves around wildly but Vassar managed to put some structure into the game. Seton Hall didn't do themselves any favors as they lost a lineout then later knocked the ball on in their own 22 and Vassar scored following the scrum 5 meters out. Dimitrios Tzepos dived in and for all their efforts Seton Hall was now further behind, with the score at 34-0. In the dying minutes of the game co-captain and flyhalf Olly Skeet-Browning scooted over and scored a try and thus put the icing on the cake. 

The Brewers go on the road next week to Troy, NY and will play a Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute XV. It is not a conference game but it will be a big challenge so they will need to have another good week of practice and once more be laser focused.

Team: 15 Kiran Mullen 14 Phil Knowlton 13 Matheo Dwyer 12 Martrel "TJ" Usher11 Ezra Potts 10 Olly Skeet-Browning 9 Bryce DiNardo 1 Benson Cao 2 Jack Gibberd 3 Justin Lederer 4 Joseph Goldin 5 Dimitrios Tzepos 6 Gabe Slavin 7 Samia Jaman 8 Kaiden Tocher. 
Subs: Luca Pereira Frears, Ki'tsai Zangpo, Zhongjia Hou, Will Smith, Sam Shurin, Leon Moore, Ben Remy, Eli Schair-Rigoletti, Caleb DiBartolo, Owen McManus, Owen Rau, Tahmid Ahmed, Mariano Decarvalho, Oliver Hollman, Daniel Wang, Steven Prince.

Next weekend: Saturday, September 30th, 2023 Vassar College Men at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Men KO 2:30 pm