Ruggers Eye N.E., Nationals

After dropping a close decision to the University of Massachusetts last week, the Harvard rugby club rebounded strongly with a 32-4 destruction of Framingham St. at Framinham Saturday.

The blow-out was the first league action for the Crimson, which is looking to qualify for the New England Championships to be held at Soldiers Field October 25 and 26.

The Crimson hosts Babson College this weekend in its second league game. If the ruggers win, they will be almost assured of a first- or second-place league finish--enough to qualify them for the Championships and a chance to recapture the NCAA crown they won in 1984.

Saturday, the ruggers never trailed. They jumped to a 12-0 halftime lead on the strength of two penalty kicks by Co-Captain Jon Israel and a try by Bryan Lennon, with Israel converting after Lennon's score.

Israel, subbing for the injured Chris North, scored a total of 14 points on the two penalty kicks and four two-point conversions. "He fit his boots very well," Coach Martyn Kingston said of Israel's performance.

The Crimson (now 1-1) exploded with 20 points in the second half. Striking quickly, Lennon scored his second try of the game five minutes into the half.

Five minutes later, the Crimson once again drove into Framingham's territory. This time, Lennon picked up the ball and ran to the short side of the field. The ruggers passed the ball precisely until a forward was tackled, and--in a scramble for the ball--Vaughn Buffalo picked up it up and headed for the end-zone.

Buffalo broke two tackles and dove in for the score, and Israel converted to give the Crimson a 22-0 lead.

In the next 10 minutes, Scot Roberts tallied twice and Israel converted after his second try to give the Crimson a commanding 32-0 lead.

Roberts scored both of his trys off set plays. On these plays, the ruggers coordinated an eight-man shove--they pushed Framingham off the ball, enabling Roberts to fall on it for the score.

Framingham St. scored a consolation goal to close the gap, but time ran out on the rally.

"I'm very happy," Kingston said, "It was a good, solid team performance."