Danes drop spring opener at Vassar,17-10

Courtesy of Vassar College:

By Head Coach Tony Brown
3/26/2011
POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (March 26, 2011) -- The last three games played on tour in Barbados were all close hard fought encounters that Vassar was unable to win. Narrow losses hurt! But maybe it was the change in temperature (Barbados 83 degrees/Poughkeepsie 33 degrees!), maybe it was the presence of alumni Winston Clement and Andrew Abshere, or perhaps it was just a dogged attitude, in any event the Brewers not only won this close one but deserved to emerge the victors.

Vassar College Men 17 v SUNY-Albany Men 10

Tries: Tyler Blake (1), Daniel Flynn (1), & Garrett Montgomery (1).

Cons: Brett Anker (1).


The first 15 minutes was all too ominious for the home team as they were bulldozed backwards and it seemed that all the issues that plagued them on tour
would yet again be there undoing! A couple of lineouts lost, two kicks to touch misssed, and some turnover ball that was returned with territorial interest
allowed Albany to go ahead 5-0 and get their tails up.


Albany and Vassar have played at this time of year for a number of years and the games have always been close. They bring a can-do approach, run hard with
purpose, and hit hard. Credit the Vassar defense in that first quarter for putting in some sterling tackles and maintaining their shape. Zach Kent, the
fullback in the fall for Vassar, looks much more comfortable on the wing. He exemplified the great team attitude when he intelligently defended the blindside on an Albany break and tracked back between the ball carrier and his opposite number intercepting what probably would have been a scoring pass. Brett Anker, now at 15, made up for his missed kicks to touch with a try saving tackle and the Vassar 10, 12, 13 combination was solid in contact.


Having weathered the initial Albany pressure Vassar put some good multiphase rugby together and it was prop Tyler Blake who dived over from a yard out
to tie the game at 5-5. That was around the 25 minute mark and there was no more scoring in the first half as both teams knocked off the Northeast rugby
rust of winter.


Although the second half started badly for Vassar as they again were victim to the physically strong forward surges they did hold and penalties enabled
them to punt deep into the Albany half. From a lineout some 25 yards out Iain Gordon gathered and the drive was fast and immediate. Rookie Dan Flynn
was driven over and Vassar led 10-5. The cold swirling wind made conversions very difficult as Anker pushed his attempt across the front of the posts.


One major difference between the teams was the amount of kicking for position. Vassar opted to keep the ball in hand whereas Albany put in a number
of kicks. So it was certainly ironic that from an attempted clearance kick by Vassar flyhalf James Purtle that Albany scored! The kick failed to make
touch and the Albany left wing scooted over. Vassar's Kendall Coleman perhaps should have made the first up tackle but with the conversion missed it
was 10-10.


Purtle did not let the poor kick phase him for he continued to run with massive conviction and consistently took responsibility in the tricky
conditions getting over the gain line. He did not lose the ball in contact, a marked improvement on his tour performances, and it was a significant
factor in the team's victory.


The Vassar halfbacks, Garrett Montgomery and Purtle, overshadowed their opposite numbers and began to link with an uncanny understanding. Three times
they excehnged perfectly weighted passes that allowed the receiver to burst through gaps in Albany's defensive line. The last one was a gem and
Montgomery scored and Vassar was up 17-10 with 5 minutes left!


So, having let the previous 3 games get away from them the Brewers were faced with the same scenario. This time they managed the final minutes much
better even though they had one scare when they turned the ball over. Kudos to this entire squad for battling hard and getting a solid win.


Team: 15 Brett Anker 14 Kendall Coleman 13 Jerry Dieudonne 12 Karl Foley 11 Zach Kent 10 James Purtle 9 Garrett Montgomery 1 Jehan Shams 2 Brian
Carvajal 3 Tyler Blake 4 Ian Ruginski 5 Aidan Kahn 6 Dillon Tysinski 7 Alan Kenney 8 Iain Gordon Subs: Dan Flynn for Dillon Tysinski.


Overall 2010-11 record: 5-6-1.


Next: Saturday April 2nd, 2011 versus SUNY-New Paltz at Vassar KO 11:00 am


Vassar College Men "B" 14 v SUNY-Albany Men "B" 5

Tries: Jerry Dieudonne(1), Kendall Coleman (1).

Cons: Brett Anker (2).


This game was just as tight as the first and again Vassar earned the win. The forwards faced a monster pack from Albany but got low and scrummaged strongly. A number of players doubled up so that everyone got a run out and they performed well in the shortened halves.


Anker playing at 9 was effective and will get another look at this position. He tackled his opposite number well at the base of the scrum and distributed with a decent pass to his number 10.


The first Vassar try came in the second half as Jerry Dieudonne just kept breaking tackles as players outside him implored him to pass the ball! Dieudonne is probably better suited to play flanker but no-one was arguing his merits at center when he gave Vassar a 7-0 lead. Albany tied matters up before Coleman showed everyone a clean pair of heels as he darted away to secure the win. Anker kicked both conversions.


Team: 15 Aidan Kahn 14 Haydon Moon 13 Kendall Coleman 12 Jerry Dieudonne 11 Jonah Orr 10 Karl Foley 9 Brett Anker 1 Zac Hays 2 Alan Kenney 3 Dan Flynn 4 Jonathan Chu 5 Ian Ruginski 6 Parker Reeves 7 Iain Gordon 8 Matt Elisofon. Subs: Dillon Tysinski for Jonah Orr.


Injured: Barrington Archer, Joe Karpman, Adam Steel, Andrew Jdaydani, Nic Placeres, Akeel St. Vil, Evan Obligin, Rahul Kanade, and Roku Fukui.

JYA: Hal Moore, Sam Thomas, and Andrew Massey.

Unavailable: Kris Adkins, Brandon Greene, Rob Rooney, Zach Beauchamp, CJ LeSueur, Zach Wasser, Nic Campell-Seremetis