After competing on the national stage in California, the members of the Dartmouth Rugby Football Club have become the big men on campus. The DRFC continues to receive accolades for its achievements as it pushes onward to newer and greater heights.
This past Sunday, the Dartmouth ruggers braved the wind, rain and cold to capture the New Hampshire Cup. The Big Green won both the A and B-side championships, with the A-side boasting a complete shutout on the day.
In the first match, the DRFC wiped the floor with Keene State College by a score of 37-0. Tries were scored by Jesse "B-side Jesus" Blom '06, Henry "The Mad Russian" Tarmy '06, Mark "Goody" Goodson '06, Thomas "Chanzo" Manzo '07, Joe "Kilf" Killefer '06 and Scott Penner '06.
Junior Andrew "Homegrown" Caspary's typically chronic kicks were arrested for the day, as he only converted one of seven in the first game. However, he did score the first try of the match and his speedy counterattack proved lethal to the fractured Keen State defense.
Tarmy and Goody had particularly spectacular tries that mirrored each other almost exactly.
Both picked up the ball from the back of a ruck on the Dartmouth five-meter line and drove, dodged and juked their way 95 meters down the field, breaking at least 12 tackles each on their respective marches to the try zone.
After a spectacular victory, the Big Green was poised for a championship match against the University of New Hampshire, and in vintage Dartmouth fashion, the DRFC once again shut down its opponent, beating UNH 21-0.
Dartmouth scored all its points in the first half with tries by Nick Stack '06, Killefer, Blom and Matt "Fragged" McKnight '05. In addition, Caspary reverted to his old form, converting all his kicks against the hapless Wildcats.
Unfortunately, the second half was not as productive offensively due to the unbearable whining of Alex "Grim Frodo Baggins" Tonelli '06, who made his debut as the new starting hooker.
Despite the offensive drought, the Big Green played excellent defense and never allowed UNH a chance to get in the game, maintaining the shutout score.
The B-side secured victories over Saint Anselm College and UNH-B to capture the championship.
The New Hampshire Cup Champion DRFC will be facing off Thursday against a strong Canadian side, the University of New Brunswick, at Sachem Field. Kickoff for the B-side match is at 4:15 p.m. with the A-side match following at 5:30.
The DRFC also plays at Sachem this Saturday against Amherst College with a 1:00 p.m. kickoff.
