Vassar 19, Sacred Heart 12

Vassar College Rugby
Sunday September 29, 2002
New Paltz, NY

Sunday September 29, 2002
Vassar College Men 19 v New Paltz Men 12
Tries: Frank Sharpe (2) & Mike Esrick (1).
Cons: Tony Baldor (2).

This was the best New Paltz men's team in the last 4 years and they possessed a large pack of forwards and some strong running backs. Vassar was perhaps a little over confident and squandered a couple of scoring chances early and then fell behind 5-0 as they failed to deal with some direct strong runners. On the small New Platz field it was always going to be hard yards that earned scoring opportunities and Frank Sharpe had a great day with the ball in hand. It was his run breaking 3 or more tackles that put Vassar ahead midway through the first half 7-5. But New Paltz continued to hammer up off the fringes and eventually broke through again to regain the lead 12-7. The home sideline was in full voice and it was even difficult at times to make lineout calls heard.

The second half saw Vassar playing down the slope but they wasted the chances to put the ball deep with poor kicks that went right down the New Paltz fullback's throat! Devendorf will have to improve this area of his game if the side are to advance in the playoffs. It allowed New Paltz to counter attack and keep the momentum. Aided and abetted in their plan to defeat the Vassar lads New Paltz had another advantage, the referee. Mr. Levine was somewhat laissez-faire in his interpretations and some laws went unenforced. But it says much for the character of the Vassar team that they hung in there even when it looked bleak. Finally the breakthrough came when the forwards drove up field from a scrum, went through a couple of phases and then the ball went through the hands to center Mike Esrick who deserved his try. Tony Baldor's conversion made it 14-12 with just 10 minutes remaining.
Vassar attempted to keep the ball in hand and did a good job as Edwin Cintron stole some scrums and Christian Bruckhart pinched lineout ball and it all added up to frustration and a late try conceded for New Paltz. Again it was Sharpe who iced the cake and it was so sweet as the climb had been uphill all afternoon.

Team: 15 Joe Schumacher 14 Jason Fotinatos 13 Mike Esrick 12 Max Marquardt 11 David McCarthy 10 Sean Devendorf 9 Tony Baldor * 1 Sam Filler 2 Edwin Cintron 3 Evan Milliken 4 Jake McDougal 5 Jon Campbell 6 Chris Bedevian 7 Frank Sharpe 8 Christian Bruckhart Subs: Sebastian Denton for Jon Campbell (blood).



	VASSAR MEN GO TO 3-0 Vassar College Rugby Sunday September 29, 2002 New Paltz, NY Sunday September 29, 2002 Vassar College Men 19 v New Paltz Men 12 Tries: Frank Sharpe (2) & Mike Esrick (1). Cons: Tony Baldor (2). This was the best New Paltz men's team in the last 4 years and they possessed a large pack of forwards and some strong running backs. Vassar was perhaps a little over confident and squandered a couple of scoring chances early and then fell behind 5-0 as they failed to deal with some direct strong runners. On the small New Platz field it was always going to be hard yards that earned scoring opportunities and Frank Sharpe had a great day with the ball in hand. It was his run breaking 3 or more tackles that put Vassar ahead midway through the first half 7-5. But New Paltz continued to hammer up off the fringes and eventually broke through again to regain the lead 12-7. The home sideline was in full voice and it was even difficult at times to make lineout calls heard. The second half saw Vassar playing down the slope but they wasted the chances to put the ball deep with poor kicks that went right down the New Paltz fullback's throat! Devendorf will have to improve this area of his game if the side are to advance in the playoffs. It allowed New Paltz to counter attack and keep the momentum. Aided and abetted in their plan to defeat the Vassar lads New Paltz had another advantage, the referee. Mr. Levine was somewhat laissez-faire in his interpretations and some laws went unenforced. But it says much for the character of the Vassar team that they hung in there even when it looked bleak. Finally the breakthrough came when the forwards drove up field from a scrum, went through a couple of phases and then the ball went through the hands to center Mike Esrick who deserved his try. Tony Baldor's conversion made it 14-12 with just 10 minutes remaining. Vassar attempted to keep the ball in hand and did a good job as Edwin Cintron stole some scrums and Christian Bruckhart pinched lineout ball and it all added up to frustration and a late try conceded for New Paltz. Again it was Sharpe who iced the cake and it was so sweet as the climb had been uphill all afternoon. Team: 15 Joe Schumacher 14 Jason Fotinatos 13 Mike Esrick 12 Max Marquardt 11 David McCarthy 10 Sean Devendorf 9 Tony Baldor * 1 Sam Filler 2 Edwin Cintron 3 Evan Milliken 4 Jake McDougal 5 Jon Campbell 6 Chris Bedevian 7 Frank Sharpe 8 Christian Bruckhart Subs: Sebastian Denton for Jon Campbell (blood).