Players from Dartmouth, Harvard, Columbia and Yale

Come Away With Win at First-Round NRU Selection

The All-Ivy Barbarians assembled this weekend for an historic and inaugural entry into the NRU Cup in Albany, NY.  Players were selected by the Ivy League coaches following the Fall 2009 Ivy League competition structure.  Coaching the AIB squad this weekend were Ivy League coaches David Gonzales (Harvard), Mike Stevenson (Harvard) and Hayden James (Columbia). William Weber (Columbia) assisted as a team manager.  The All-Ivy Barbarians team kit and uniforms were provided by Kooga – Made for Rugby™.

The AIB took the field clad in black and white, with each student wearing the sock of his home university.  The All-Ivy team kicked off their first match at 12:00 noon against a select side representing the New York State conference.  New York fielded a physically imposing team and looked dangerous early in the first half, driving deep into Ivy territory off of a rolling maul.  However, the Barbarians were able to make several impressive goal line stands and clear out of their own territory.   Successful counter-attack by the Ivy-Leaguers found the ball back in New York’s end, and a several scrums picked off by scrum half Will Lehmann (Dartmouth ’12) led to close calls but no scoring for the Ivy squad, and at the half the game remained scoreless.

After a short break it was clear that team chemistry was starting to build, and the Ivy side’s play in the second half reflected the Barbarians’ gelling as a squad with increased composure and execution.   Back to back tries scored by flanker Derek Lipscomb (Columbia) gave the Barbarians the lead, and out of two successful conversions by fly half and match captain Tommy Brothers (Dartmouth ‘11) put the Barbarians ahead 12-0 at the final whistle.

After a lunch break and a talk from NRU head coach Mike Hodgins, the Barbarians kicked off their next match against a select NERFU side at 3:00 PM.  As with the first match, the game started a bit frantically but following a nice clearing kick from Brothers the Barbarians were able keep play largely in NERFU territory.  Great set-piece work allowed the Barbarians to maintain possession, with hooker Charlie Boutwell (Harvard) connecting well in the line-outs with locks Nate Brakeley (Dartmouth ‘12) and Tim Shriver (Yale), and the Barbarian pack largely dominating the scrums.  Two tries for the Barbarians were soon to follow, with the latter taken in by tighthead prop Charlie Grant (Dartmouth ‘11).  Both tries were converted by kicks from Brothers, putting the Barbarians up 14-7 with minutes to play.  Just before the half, the NERFU forwards managed to disrupt a long stretch of Barbarian possession ball with some excellent counter-rucking, putting the final score at 14-7 at halftime.

The second half saw the AIB turn on a prime display of fifteen-man rugby.  The Barbarian scrum led by loosehead prop Mike Dibenidetto (Dartmouth ‘10) continued to drive NERFU off of their own ball and provided the backs with a great platform.  A magnificent tackle-breaking run from flanker Derek Lipscomb (Columbia) followed by some strong footwork saw him run forty yards before linking up with lock Brakeley, who finished off the drive for the try, putting the Barbarians ahead 21-7.  Soon after, an offensive drive saw the ball flying through the hands of the Ivy backs, and fly half Brothers was able to find team-mate and outside center Carl Zehner (Dartmouth ‘11) for yet another try.  Later in the half, injuries and substitutions saw the addition of Olaf Matti (Columbia) at hooker, as well as Andrew Moir (Yale) at flanker and Phil Constantinou (Yale) at lock. At the final whistle, the Barbarians emerged victiorious 31-7.

After the match, Barbarians head coach Dave Gonzales was very pleased with the way the squad had performed.  “This worthy performance was not only a highly enjoyable and worthy experience but also showcased the best of what Ivy League rugby and our programs have to offer”, he said.  “It was an honor and a privilege to be involved, and the coaches and players had a thoroughly enjoyable time”.  In particular, Gonzales remarked at the way the team was able to come together on short notice to function as a unit.  “The spirit the team developed after working together for just a short time was amazing” he remarked; “who knows what would be possible if we actually spent time training together!”

Following the day’s matches, eleven of the All-Ivy players were selected to continue training with the NRU squad for assemblies in May and a crack at making All American. Those players selected were:  Michael Dibennedetto (Dartmouth), Charlie Boutwell (Harvard), Charlie Grant (Dartmouth), Nate Brakeley (Dartmouth), Tim Shriver (Yale), Paul Jarvis (Dartmouth), Derek Lipscomb (Columbia), Will Lehmann (Dartmouth), Tommy Brothers (Dartmouth), Derek Fish (Dartmouth), and Conor Rossomanno (Columbia).

Meanwhile, Ivy League players and coaches are looking forward to seeing each other at the Ivy League Sevens tournament, to be held at Dartmouth next Sunday, May 2nd.