Southern Conn. Cans Ruggers; Crimson Out of National Chase

The Harvard rugby club was eliminated from the New England Championships Saturday at Soldiers Field after dropping a first-round contest to Southern Connecticut, 15-7.

Dartmouth captured the New England crown by defeating Vermont, 12-9, in yesterday's final. Dartmouth and Vermont will compete in the Northeastern Championships in the spring. Rhode Island nabbed the Plate (or consolation) tournament with a 4-3 decision over the University of Massachusetts.

Because of its loss Saturday, the Crimson is now ineligible for further national competition, and will have to wait at least another year to recapture the national title it last won in 1984.

"I said two weeks ago, we played the best half of the fall season [against Babson]," Harvard Coach Martyn Kingston said. "Now, we just played the stupidest half of the year.

Harvard committed five first-half penalties, including three in the first four minutes, and gave Connecticut three free kicks--effectively keeping the ruggers pinned deep in their own territory for the entire first half.

Connecticut jumped ahead, 6-0, when Chris McKennio intercepted a lazy Harvard pass and raced 40 yards for the try.

Six minutes later, the visitors kicked the ball into the Crimson's endzone. As a Harvard player attempted to down the ball, the Connecticut defense swarmed in to knock it loose. In the ensuing pile-up, a Connecticut rugger came up with the ball for a try--but not without a spot of controversy.

Out of Sight

"I did not see him touch the ball down," Referee Ron Tremper said. "There were two players between me and the action. I'm not happy [with the call]."

The points remained on the board, however, putting the Crimson down, 12-0, at the half.

Harvard rallied in the second half on Scott Roberts' fourth try of the year and a penalty kick by Nathan Koenig, but couldn't catch up.

With the A-side out of the national chase, the Crimson will shift its emphasis to polishing the skills of its B-and C-sides members.

Harvard (2-3) next visits McGill University, in Montreal, for the latest contest in an intercollegiate rivalry dating back to 1872.