Williams College RFC

Match Schedule Spring '12

Williams Beats Union 67-12

WRFC Wins Running Away, 67-12                  

The Williams Rugby team began the spring 2012 season with a convincing win over a clearly overmatched Union College rugby team.  Union College (Schenectady, NY) plays in the Upstate New York Rugby Union and the quality of rugby there is suspect.  They were overmatched in all aspects of the game.

It took the White Dogs only two minutes to notch their first try.  Williams immediately pressed Union by contesting the kick-off and pushing deep into Union territory.  Williams won possession of the ball and after maintaining possession through several phases, (winning rucks repeatedly) spun the ball wide where Fullback Chris Condor ’15 side-stepped a defender and passed to Jay Gurney ’13 who scored in the corner.  Condor missed the conversion but the lead was Williams, 5-0.

Four minutes later Williams scored again after great continuity and putting immense pressure on Union. Carl Whipple ’12 took the ball from a ruck and dove in for a try in the corner.  The conversion again missed.  Williams 10, Union 0.

Three converted tries came quickly after that.  They were scored by Eric Mintzer ’14 (14^th minute); Chris Condor ’15 (20^th minute); and Conor Ryan ’12 (29^th minute).  These three tries put the score at 31-0 

Union answered by a spirited bit of play that showed tenacity, heart, and continuity.  They were able to drive into the Williams 22 meter area and from there drive in a try to the right of the posts.  The conversion missed. That made the score 31-5.

Williams had admittedly gone flat and showed some signs of indolence.  After the Union try they were challenged to increase their work rate and play to a higher level.  That they did.  Steve Smith ’12 scored a converted try in 36^th minutes and Chris Conder scored a second try just before halftime in the 39^th minute.  That conversion was missed.  The halftime score was 43-5. 

It was obvious that Williams was going to win the game.  Given this, it is still important for a team to play well.  The goal in every game is to match or better one’s first half points.  The idea is not to humiliate your opponent but to honor them by displaying good play and energy.  In a sport like rugby where limited substitution are allowed, a team uses the seven substitutes allowed and then what can one do but play as well as one can.  Goofing with the ball and making intentional errors is demeaning and unacceptable. 

Williams did not better their first half score but did add four tries and 24 points.  Tries were scored by Evan Oleson ’12 (50^th minute); Chris Conder ’15 (60^th minute); Conor Ryan ’12 (71^st minute); and Evan Oleson ’12 (79^th minute).  Union sandwiched a converted try at the 72^nd minute mark. The final score was 67-12 

All the Williams substitutes got to play the final 30 minutes.  This is critical to developing experienced players for future games and future years. 

The scoring output was among the highest in Williams’ history.  Seven players scored and three had multi-score games.  Conor Ryan and Evan Oleson had two tries each, and newcomer Chris Conder scored three tries.

“A” Side Players

Forwards: Josh Geller, Justin Hunte, Ivan Evsyukov, Evan Oleson, Kush Fanikiso, Conor Ryan, Javier Mariscal, Carl Whippe.

Subs: Henry Bergman, Rene Rodriquez, Hamza Zaidan, Mike Flynn.

Backs: Seamus McKinsey, Eric Mintzer, Mike Hanley, Steve Smith, Jay Gurney, Cary White, Chris Conder.

 Subs: Stan Monfront, Danny Tessler, Pete Mertz.

NEXT GAMES:

The competition gets much tougher this coming week as the White Dogs return to facing NERFU (New England Rugby Football Union) opponents in the annual John Donovan Memorial Rugby Tournament.  This tournament is known for playing an ‘A’ side bracket and a ‘B’ side bracket.  That means everyone gets to play two games.  The visiting teams are Keene State College, St. Michael’s College, and the University of Vermont.

The tentative schedule is:

John Donovan Memorial Tournament Spring 2012

                  MEN'S FIELD                                     WOMEN'S FIELD

Time               'A' bracket                                           'B' Bracket

11:00            Williams 'A' v. St. Mike's 'A'            UVM 'B' v. Keene State 'B'

12:00            UVM 'A' v. Keene State 'A'             Williams B v. St. Mike's 'B'

1:00                          Williams Alumni v Williams ‘B’

2:00                                                                 'B' Bracket Losers Play

3:00            'A' bracket Losers Play

4:00                                                                'B' Bracket Winners Play

5:00            'A' bracket Winners Play

Games start at 11:00 AM.