Harvard Too Strong Despite Accuracy Issues

Harvard won their first game 48 – 7 against a bigger UNH outfit at Harvard on Saturday.

Trailing 7 – 0 after a promising start from UNH, Harvard began settling into their game plan and were far to organized and structured in their 8 tries to 1 demolition.

Harvard’s forwards played well and contributed 4 of the tries. No. 8 Jean Sebastien Cagnioncle 2, captain Blazej Kesy and prop Mike Hoffman all dotting down. The forwards were instrumental in manufacturing the other four tries which were scored by winger Tom Caceres 2 and fullback Ian Mallot. Their was a dubious penalty try awarded to Harvard which added to the tally.

Although the score line was comfortable Harvard’s New Zealand coach Kent Currie will be worried about the poor execution that hand-braked the teams attacking systems.

“The boys hadn’t played since the Beanpot victory last year so I expected rustiness in our systems. I think the boys played well and showed promise. There were some execution issues but overall I was fairly pleased and I’m happy for the boys” Currie says.

Harvard has a tough second round match against arch rivals Yale. The game will be the match of the round. Yale is a much improved team and ran Dartmouth close. It should be an exciting game and Harvard will have to be at their best to win.

Harvard 48 ( J S Cagnioncle 2, T Caceres 2, M Hoffman, I Mallot, B Kesy, Penalty try, tries, J S Cagnioncle 4 con) UNH 7
H/T 29 – 7
Crowd: 700

Harvard

1 Stu King
2 Dave Garner (replaced by Callum King – replaced by Tom Southworth)
3 Mike Hoffman
4 Colin Kelly (replaced by Chid Iliobache)
5 Blazej Kesy forwards captain
6 Mike Manco Johnson (replaced by Ben Decker)
7 Patrick Holkins
8 Jean Sebastien Cagnioncle
9 Bobby Sprang (replaced by Morgan Potts)
10 Rob Campbell
11 Andre Plair(replaced by Tom Caceres)
12 Nick Mott (replaced by Yemi)
13 Josh Copp
14 Ifedayp Suye
15 Ian Mallot

Head Coach: Bob Karetsky
Backs Coach: Kent Currie
Forwards Coach Scotty Lumby