Match Report - Yale v Norwich
4 Oct 2007
Men's Rugby Match Report
Yale 29 - Norwich 22
On a spectacular fall day in Central Vermont, the family weekend crowd was treated to a battle between the Yale Bulldogs and the Norwich Cadets. The match featured six lead changes in the first half.
At Norwich’s five-meter line Miley Massed steals Yale’s lineout throw. The Wick’s forwards continue the surge to the in-goal line. At the ruck, freshman hooker Ryan Wunder picks and drives over for the first points of the day. Senior captain Todd Howe converts. Ten minutes into the match Norwich leads 7-0.
In the course of the next six minutes Yale gets a penalty kick and an unconverted try to take the lead 8-7. Four minutes later Norwich drives at a ten-minute lineout, finishing it off with junior Brad Panasiti placing the ball down for the try. Norwich retakes the lead 12-8.
At the thirty-first minute Yale’s scrumhalf takes a quick tap on a Norwich penalty, which creates another try for the Eli. Yale retakes the lead 15-12.
At the restart Todd Howe rips the ball away from Yale and Norwich maintains possession through six phases of play, culminating with junior flyhalf Kevin Bishop kicking ahead to junior center Matt Burke, who catches the ball in full stride, dashes 20 meters, and dives over for a fan-pleasing and well planned-out try. Norwich captures the lead for the third time, 17-15.
Shortly after the ensuing kickoff Norwich is called for offsides and Yale attempts a penalty kick.
In the waning moments of the first half, Norwich comes storming back, hoping for a seventh lead change. Flyhalf Kevin Bishop cuts through the Yale’s defense inside the twenty-two meter line, and at the five-meter line Yale is called for a penalty.
Senior lock Miley Massed leaves the match with an injury and is replaced by Senior Joel Anderson. With the substitution some confusion follows and in the ensuing play Norwich is called for an obstruction penalty. As the clock ticks down, Norwich has yet another chance to possibly score, since Yale’s clearing kick stays inside the twenty-two. Norwich wins its lineout and is driving forward toward the try line when the referee whistles the Wick for obstruction on their driving maul.
“These missed opportunities were unfortunate,” said Coach Weggler.
A fast-paced first half comes to an end, Yale 22-Norwich 17.
The second half turns into a defensive battle. Yale scores a converted try early on, widening their lead to 29-17. Sophomore lock Mike Presseau retaliates with Norwich's fourth try of the day off a five-meter lineout. With twenty-one minutes remaining, the scoreboard reads, Yale 29 - Norwich 22.
The hard-fought match continues, with play moving back and forth from one end of the field to the other. With ten minutes left in the match Matt Burke is given a yellow card and sent to the sin bin for a dangerous tackle, leaving Norwich to finish the game with only fourteen men.
Despite playing short-handed, the Wick battles intensely, but is unable to put more points on the board. The final: Yale 29 - Norwich 22.
“The boys, through injuries, have persevered and performed valiantly today,” said Coach Weggler. He added, “Our focus was to win, however, even with the loss, the effort and development shown by the team cannot be overlooked. We are improving with every match.”
The 2nd and 3rd sides are also developing and improving. The 2nd side lost 19-12 and the 3rd side lost 12-5.
Injury report: Senior flanker Justin Howard, (“Man of the Match” for the Harvard contest) went down in the first half and is out for the season with a broken collar bone. In addition, senior lock Miley Massed and junior flanker Brad Panasiti, (“Man of the Match” for the Army contest) are out for at least a week, if not two, with bruised shoulders.
This Saturday, October 6, Norwich travels to Hanover, NH to take on the Big Green of Dartmouth. Kick-off time is slated for noon at Dartmouth’s Rugby Facility.
