The DRFC lost to Cal-Davis 26-21 in overtime in the final of the East regional of the National Collegiate Rugby Tournament at Penn State. While the loss leaves the DRFC as one of the top eight teams in college rugby, the victory puts Cal-Davis in the collegiate Final Four in two weeks.
Dartmouth chose to play into the strong wind in the first half. Davis immediately used the wind to keep Dartmouth pinned down inside their 22.
Davis ran off several rucks and punched over for the score at the seven minute mark to take a 7-0 lead.
At the 21 minute mark, Dartmouth went offside at a scrum. Davis took a quick tap penalty and ran 50 meters for the try and a 14-0 lead.
A few minutes later, Davis set up a driving maul from a lineout and eventually went over for a 21-0 lead.
With just a minute left in the half, Davis was penalized near their own goal line.
Dartmouth faked a forward charge but spun the ball to the backs. Captain and flyhalf Torbjorn Dimblad '97 ran wide and set a ruck.
Scrum half Doug Burnaford '98 then ran weak, dummied his opponent, and sliced through for the score. Fullback Mike Morn '97 made the conversion and the half ended with Davis leading 21-7.
Dartmouth immediately used the wind in the second half to pressure Davis. At the 12 minute mark, scrumhalf Burnaford made a long kick that bounced out at the Davis 1-meter line.
Davis failed to throw in straight at the lineout and Dartmouth chose a scrum. Scrumhalf Burnaford sent the ball went wide to outside center Craig Smith '97 who fought his way in for the try. Morn's conversion made it 21-14 to Davis.
With 10 minutes left in the game, Dartmouth won the ball at a Davis lineout. The ball was spun wide and the Green set a ruck.
This time Dartmouth went weak and spun the ball to wing David Miller '98 who went over for the try. Morn made the conversion from a difficult angle to tie the score.
Dartmouth had several opportunities in the final minutes of the game but could not convert. Davis missed a penalty goal near the end that would have won the game. The score was 21-21 when time expired.
Overtime in the collegeiate tournament is decided by sudden death. Davis won the toss and a big advantage with the wind. Dartmouth took the kick and attacked immediately into the wind.
From a Dartmouth ruck, the Big Green gambled with a missed play to the outside. The Davis center intercepted the pass and ran for the winning score and a spot in the Final Four.
Dartmouth finished as New England and Northeast champions. Their loss in the national round of 8 places them among the top teams in the country.
The A-side record for the year was 13-5-1. Four of the losses came against foreign sides on the Fall and Spring tours. The only defeat by a domestic club was Sunday's loss to Cal Davis.
