At the Burlington Seven's Tournament on Saturday, four experienced men's club teams defeated the Dartmouth Men's Rugby Club.
Unlike the regular season, Dartmouth's team, consisting of seven players, went against predominently men's clubs instead of college sides.
Seven's is primarily a passing game based on continuity and possession of the ball unlike the 15-member game played during the year when speed and strength play more of a factor.
Sophmore tour players Todd Aaron, Doug Asano, Chris McGee, John Moore, Jonathan Stoel, Craig Thomas and Roger Vincent composed the team. Jesse Israel '96, Scott Nudelman '96 and Oliver Will '96 substituted during the tournament.
"It was a learning experience," Vincent said last night. "It was the first time that we played in that format."
In the first match, the New York Rugby Club overwhelmed a slow-starting Dartmouth side by a score of 20-0, according to Stoel.In a match that remained close throughout the 15-minute game, Bergen Rugby Club took advantage of Dartmouth's lack of a scrumhalf and defeated them, 15-7. The scrumhalf, acts like the quarterback in football, directing the forwards in their drive for possession of the ball.
The rugby team was held scoreless by the Philadelphia Ruby club and was crushed, 17-0. Two members of the Eagles, the United States' national team, played for Philadelphia.
But in their final and closest match -- a game they said they should have won -- against the Burlington Men's Rugby Club, Dartmouth ran out of time and was unable to score the tying try.
Burlington won, 17-12, despite hard play by Vincent and a try scored made possible by the passing of Aaron and Thomas, Stoel said.