Rugby 'A' Drops 10-4 Contest; London Hooker Key to Victory

The rugby "A" team came away smiling Saturday afternoon despite a 10-4 loss.

After all, Saturday night was just around the corner. And the Crimson had put together an excellent team effort. "With a few better bounces, we could have won," Co-captain Mike DeMatteo said yesterday. "We were in the game all the way."

Unfortunately, the oppostion was University College of London, where rugby is taken seriously. The Crimson was beaten by experience. Harvard rugby president Mark Haffner said, "We had the speed on them and the size on them. It all goes to show how important technique is."

The British were able to control the ball much of the game, which proved to be an effective method for shutting off the Harvard offense.

London won almost every scrum with superior technique and an excellent hooker. And according to DeMatteo, its "kicking game was phenomenal." They kept the ball from the Crimson running backs and consistently kicked it over the back line.

London was able to shut out Harvard much of the game while picking up its ten-point lead. In the first half, the Englishmen overloaded the right side and a wing went in for the tri untouched.

A Crimson mistake deep in its own territory led to the second London goal. A loose ball, which should have been kicked out, found its way into the hands of a London forward and he toppled into the end zone.

Harvard's only tri was not even scored on an offensive drive. It came on a long run by Richie Sherman, after he had intercepted a London pass.

Socialization

There was a lot to be happy about though. "I'm glad they came," Heffner said. "You really learn something from a club like that, talking with them at dinner and the party after that."

DeMatteo felt that keeping close to a squad that has been "beating everybody in New England," is encouraging. He and Heffner predicted a good showing next weekend at the Ivy league tournament in Providence.

Earlier on Saturday, the Rugby "B" and "C" teams battled the "A" and "B" teams of the University of Connecticut, with mixed success. The "B" squad succumbed 3-0 on a penalty tri while the "C" team ran all over its opponent, 26-3.