October 22, 2005

Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts

BOSTON COLLEGE EAGLES SOAR PAST BROWN 95-0

Brown’s progress as a team this fall was given a harsh dose of reality by a very skilled
and talented BC squad. BC competed in the White League this fall and despite their 2-3
league record, was quite likely superior to both Amherst and Harvard, the top teams in
our Green League. With very talented players at scrum half, fly half, a silky outside
center, an ox like number 8 and an absurdly speedy loosehead prop, and solid players at
all positions, this was an opportunistic side that capitalized on every Brown mistake and
made Brown pay dearly. With all 15 of BC’s players able to move the ball well. They
attacked from touch line to touch line, with Brown unable to cover several phases of play
without a significant breakdown.

At one level BC was a joy to watch but the effort expended by the Brown side was
mostly lost by committing too many to each breakdown and not re-aligning nearly
quickly enough to match BC’s fluid style. BC scored eight first half tries, six converted,
for a 52-0 lead and then coasted home with seven second half tries (four converted).

The first few minutes of the match saw Brown work the ball into BC’s end of the field
and almost score twice. Pressure was good, the Brown pattern was effective and it was a
shame that Brown could not put the ball over the line. Ethan Brown nearly squirted down
on a loose ball in goal but was apparently tripped on the way down. Jeff Margulies made
a tremendous break but there was not enough support to finish it. This was the defining
difference between the teams. BC took every scoring opportunity offered to them while
Brown failed to score on at least five decent scoring chances. Having survived Brown’s
aggressive start, BC took control of the game, and, once BC broke the game open in the
first 20 minutes, Brown could not recover.

To their credit, the Brown squad gave their best and had moments of success throughout
the match, but just couldn’t put together enough sequences to score. Eight of our first
team this week were either freshmen or sophomores. Also, when the chips were down,
our forwards were unable to get any quality possession from our scrummages. The
biggest problem though was BC’s ability to turnover Brown ball at crucial moments. We
found attack suddenly became a scramble in defense and BC were coldly clinical in
taking full advantage of our defensive disorganization. We had not yet met a team of
fifteen highly competent rugby players and BC gave us a sound lesson in fifteen man,
total rugby.

The First XV must now beat the University of Massachusetts to remain in the New
England First Division. If Brown loses, we will be relegated to the Second Division.
Men of the Match: Forward: Zachary Whitener’09
Back: Nick Stoker’09

First XV Squad
1. Yale Wang’06
2. Joe Elliott’08
3. Kevin Thomas’07 (Replaced by Ryan Couto’07 the second half)
4. Dave Schwartz’09
5. Ted Brown’07 (Replaced by Alan Gabel’08 the first half)
6. Matt Bubley’09
7. Zachary Whitener’09
8. Rob Neville’08
9. Tom Flaherty’08
10. Jeff Margulies’07
11. Dan Fombonne’07
12. Ethan Brown’07 (replaced by Hugh Livengood’07 in the last 15 minutes)
13. Nick Stoker’09
14. Gus Crothers’07 (replaced by Jon-Michael Davirro’07 the second half)
15. Patrick Roux’09

BROWN SECOND XV WINS 5-0

Short several players, the B side just willed a victory with solid defense and the
opportunistic play of fly half Hugh Livengood’07. A soft chip kick at the goal line was
mishandled by the BC player and pounced on by Livengood for the only score of the
match. Excellent forward play by flanker Simon Salgado’07 and number 8 Dan Levitt’08
and the support of the rest of the squad kept BC pinned in their end the entire match.

As the gloom of darkness fell over the field, BC wanted to play an additional 15 minutes
and Salgado scored twice to finish off a great afternoon for the B’s. Simon ran 10 yards
off a maul for the first try and as time ran out, Dave (Big Soft) Bloom’08 passed to
Salgado for the final score. Neither try was converted.

Scrum half David Yeh, missed the bus to the match due to a bout of food poisoning, but
found his way to the field in time for the second match. David’ grit and determination
were noteworthy as his presence lifted the squad and its performance.

This B team yet again willed out another victory and went some way to restoring some
Brown pride. It is a testament to the level of play of this B team that they manage to
outplay what on paper should be considerably better opposition. A healthy blend of
youthful energy, refusal to accept defeat and sheer enjoyment characterize this team.

There was at least some light in the darkness at Boston College.

Men of the Match: Forwards: Simon Salgado’07
Dan Levitt’08
Back: Hugh Livengood’07

Second XV Squad
1. Christopher Manatis-Lornell’08 (replaced by Caleb Miller’09 in second half)

2. Jeffrey Stasz’07
3. Kevin Thomas’07 (replaced by Ryan Couto’07 in second half)
4. David Perlmutter’09
5. David Bloom’08
6. Simon Salgado’07
7. Dave Meisner’07 (replaced by Mark Fuller in first half and Adam Emrich in
second half)
8. Dan Levitt’08
9. Jon Chin’08 (replaced by David Yeh’07 in second half)
10. Gus Crothers’07 (replaced by Hugh Livengood in first half)
11. Aldun Andre’07
12. Ben Liotta’07
13. Hugh Livengood’07 ( replaced by David Meisner in first half)
14. Jon-Michael Davirro’07
15. Cain McClary’07 (replaced by Cody Campanie’08 in second half)

This Saturday, October 29, we play to avoid relegation with a home match against the
also winless University of Massachusetts. On comparative scores, always a dangerous
method of analysis, we appear pretty equal, but we have said that of several of our
opponents already. Come out and cheer on the Bears. Match kicks off at 1 P.M. at our
field across from the Brown Football Stadium.

JF6000