Ruggers Keep Rolling

The Harvard rugby club is having a tough time doing anything wrong these days.

After the Crimson rolled over its first four Metro Boston Region opponents by a combined score of 97-15, the stage was set for the Crimson to battle Boston University Saturday at Soldiers Field for the Metro Region Championship. The winner would walk off as the top seed in the division for next weekend's New England Championships in Worcester.

The game wasn't much of a game as B.U. turned out to be just another victim of the Harvard rugby steamroller. The Crimson (5-1 overall, 5-0 Metro Region) flattened the Terriers, 18-4, in front of 200 spectators on a muddy field.

"We're just on a roll," said wing David Bugler, who scored both Crimson trys. "We're having a tough time doing anything wrong right now."

Bulger, a former football player who has been playing rugby for two months, tallied his fourth and fifth trys in only three games.

"Dave Bulger has been a key addition to our backfield," said volunteer Coach Martyn Kingston. "Our entire backfield, and our forwards too, are playing their best rugby of the year."

Co-Captain Scott Tierney and wing Jake Hill were other backfield members who contributed big plays.

"The men of the match were Jake Hill and Scott Tierney," Kingston said. "They both played well, especially defensively. They came through with some strong tackling in the backfield."

The Crimson roared to a 15-0 lead at the half. Both Bulger trys were converted by Chris Liles, who also added two penalty kicks.

"We played a very sound, technical game in really bad conditions," Kingston said. "What B.U. lacked in skill, they tried to make up with physical play. We showed heart in the way we reacted. Our pack continued dominating as they have so far this year."

In 42 rucks created by Harvard, the Crimson gained possession 40 of those times. In 18 scrummages, the Crimson pack came away with the ball every time. In comparison, B.U. started 14 scrummages and won he ball only six times.