Match Report - Northeastern vs Norwich

In the hills of Northfield, Vermont, on a spectacular fall day, a pivotal Division I Collegiate rugby match took place between Northeastern RFC and the Norwich RFC. At the opening kickoff you could sense tension emanating from both squads.

Eight minutes into the first half, senior fly-half Randy Bielski intercepted a pass and ran it in for Norwich’s first try of the match. Todd Howe’s conversion put the score at 7-0, for the Cadets.

At the midpoint of the first half, junior scrum-half Todd Howe scored Norwich’s second try. This try was set up by a nice pass to Todd from junior #8 Peter Beamer off the base of the attacking scrum. Howe converted his try to elevate the score to 14-0, Norwich.

Northeastern was not to be denied. They came storming back with two tries of their own, at the twenty-fifth and thirty-third minutes, to narrow Norwich's lead to 14-10. Both tries were unconverted.

Shortly before the half ended, as a result of a penalty kick to touch by the Wick, Norwich had a lineout just inside Northeastern's twenty-meter line.

Norwich’s pack was not only able to win the resulting throw-in, but maintained possession all the way to the in-goal. The ensuing rolling maul resulted in a try by senior flanker Bill Rose. In support was freshman hooker, Bill Wynne. Todd Howe made his third conversion of the day, from a tough angle. The half ended: 21-10, Norwich.

Once again, Northeastern came storming back, and within minutes had brought the score to 21-17 with a converted try.

A tough defense by Northeastern denied Norwich's pack from touching the ball down just inches from the in-goal, and what appeared to be Norwich's fourth try was called for diving in the ruck.

This goal-line stance seemed to spark the Huskies, who scored their fourth try near the twenty-minute mark of the second half. The resulting conversion put Northeastern up by three, 24-21. This marked the first time in the match Northeastern led.

Nearly one-fourth of the match was yet to be played. Inside Northeastern’s twenty-meter line, Norwich’s freshman hooker Bill Wynne steals one against the head. At the base of the scrum, junior scrumhalf Todd Howe gets it out for a backline movement. After a series of rucks, senior outside center Sean Burgess dives over for what turns out to be the winning try. Todd Howe made his fourth consecutive conversion of the afternoon. The points from Howe’s boot turned out to be a key factor in Norwich’s victory.

The last ten minutes were nail-biting for both sides. This match was a clean, hard-fought battle to the very end. Northeastern was knocking at Norwich's door when the ref's whistle blew to end the match. The final score: Norwich 28 - Northeastern 24.

During this upcoming Parent’s Weekend, Norwich has another pivotal match, versus U-Conn. Kick-off time is 1:30 pm.