Harvard University vs. Army 20-0

Harvard pulled off their greatest victory of the past few years Saturday by blanking Army 20-0. A perennial national favorite, Army had not been defeated in New England league play since 2002. On a muddy day in wet conditions by the Charles river, that all changed.

Harvard started the game with license to add a bit of flair and the belief that they could pull off an upset. From the kick-off, Harvard moved smartly down the field with intelligent tactical kicking and good mauling. After only a few minutes, Harvard were rewarded with a great score from the forwards who drove over in the corner for a try by prop Nery Porras ’09, 5-0.

Unfazed, Army came back with unrelenting attack. They attempted to use their superior power, speed, and fitness to create holes in the Harvard defense. However, they met a defensive line that refused to crack. Harvard were able to capitalize on the slow transition between Army’s scrum-half and fly-half, who had difficulty with the wet conditions. The 10 had little time to spread the ball wide to his strike runners with the defense in his face, stymieing their attack.

Army would continue to probe deep into Harvard territory for the remainder of the first half without producing any points.

The penalty count against Harvard began to climb and shortly before the end of the first spell, the referee had enough and yellow-carded a Harvard lock for repeated infringements. Down to 14 men and deep in their own 22, it seemed inevitable that Army would convert.

But the second half was a different story. Instead of backing down as most other New England teams have done against Army, Harvard upped their effort in the second half and truly dominated all aspects of the game despite being down to 14 men. They controlled the tempo and forced Army’s play-makers into poor decisions. Harvard struck early and scored a true team try that worked its way across the field, down the blind sucking in the defense, then back through the hands for center TJ Brennan’s ’10 first of two tries on the day in the corner, 10-0.

From then on, Army were stuck in their own half. Unable to run around or through the Harvard defense, they resorted to kicking over the top and chasing. However, Harvard’s back three were up to the challenge and terrific on the counter-attack. Staying calm, Harvard would secure the ball and then kick into the space behind Army’s wingers for which Army had no answer.

Down inside the 22, Harvard’s forward pack took over. Keone Nakoa ’08 and Rob Tennyson ’10 used their strength and power to take the small yards and always cross the advantage line. Finally, the assault at Army’s defense produced points with a break in midfield by Harvard’s fly-half, offloading to Brennan who scored his second try. Harvard would later add a penalty from 40m out to nullify any chance of a late Army comeback. At the final whistle, Harvard coaches Dave Gonzales and Willy Tonery celebrated an emphatic and well-earned victory for their players, 20-0.

In the end, though Army may have had superior physical fitness and stamina, they were outmatched by Harvard’s outstanding tactical play and sheer determination to win. Army remains the premier program in the North-east Rugby Union and a model for what rugby in America should strive to mirror in terms of player preparation, fitness, and organization. Congratulations to Army for placing 1st in New England league play.

Next week, in the quarter-finals of the NRU Division I play-offs, Army faces Boston College, whereas Harvard travels to SUNY Buffalo.