Check out the article in Rugbymag.com below:
Vermont Shocks MIddlebury
The University of Vermont defeated Middlebury 19-15 to win the 2009 Northeast RFU DII Men’s Collegiate Championship.
Both teams played tough games the day before in miserable weather; Middlebury defeating Stony Brook (NY) 11-0 and Vermont rallying in the final quarter to beat New England Champs UMass-Amherst 15-10.
Sunday’s weather for the NRU final was beautiful and the coaches of both teams agreed to delay the game for 1 1/2 hours to get a more playable field.
The game started as a kicking contest, with Vermont’s back three fielding the ball well and counter-kicking smartly. The opening try came fortuitously when a Vermont player fielded a kick just inside Middlebury’s half and counter-kicked. The ball was tipped by a Middlebury player, rendering all of the Vermont players onside. Vermont captain and flanker Jack Bates dove on the ball in the Middlebury try zone and then added the conversion, 7-0
Middlebury responded with a drive that earned them a penalty kick in front of the Vermont posts, which Sirkia slotted home, 7-3.
Strong running by the Vermont backs and forwards asked a lot of the Middlebury defense and Vermont eventually scored a try that Bates converted, 14-3
Late in the half, two Vermont players were sin-binned in separate occurrences. The first was for a late hit and the second, six minutes later, for stopping a quick tap penalty run from an off-sides position. A Middlebury penalty try was awarded for the second and Sirkia converted, narrowing Vermont’s lead to 14-10.
Vermont had only 13 men on the field for the final five minutes but Middlebury was unable to capitalize.
Middlebury applied great pressure in the second half. Their forwards retained possession, they got better kicking from their backs, and they pressured the Vermont back three, forcing turnovers.
In the 20th minute, after camping for some time inside Vermont’s 22, Sirkia made a beautiful skip pass to Kalan on the outside, who punched into the corner from five meters out to give Middlebury a 15-14 lead.
As expected, Vermont came right back at Middlebury, continually crossing the gainline, with their flyhalf and centers running well. With 10 minutes remaining, Vermont poached possession in a ruck 10 meters from Middlebury’s line and spun the ball wide. Taking advantage of an overlap, Vermont’s wing rounded Middlebury’s defense and scored the winning try, 19-15.
Based on Sunday’s results, Vermont, Middlebury and UMass-Amherst (which defeated Stony Brook in the 3rd place play-off) will represent the Northeast RFU next spring in USA Rugby’s national playoffs.
http://www.rugbymag.com/news/colleges/men-dii-college/vermont-shocks-middlebury.aspx
Recent Comments