The men's rugby team dropped a hard-fought match to Rhode Island College at home on Saturday by a final score of 17-0, which in rugby lingo translates to three trys, or scores, and one after-try conversion.
Similar to football's two-point conversion, in rugby, after a team scores, it attempts a conversion kick, also worth two points. Rhode Island was only able to convert one of three kicks.
In addition to featuring much bigger team members, Rhode Island's crew is a Division III squad, while Brandeis is in Division IV. The Judges went into the competition anticipating a challenge, as Rhode Island's reputation is that of being a successful, well-equipped team.
Rhode Island dominated the first half, never allowing the Judges to control the ball or the pace of the game. Brandeis spent most of the first half on the defensive, as Rhode Island kept the ball in Brandeis territory. With the exception of one break away, the Judges did not come close to scoring in the first 40 minutes.
Brandeis played well despite what the score would indicate. Alex Goldstein '06, the rugby club's president, commended the team's performance.
"We were playing a team that we knew was better. We went out there and played balls-out," Goldstein said. "We tackled well and our kicking game was our strength of the day." He also noted that the team had a great scrum against a much bigger pack.
This was Brandeis' first fifteens game in a long time. A match is considered a fifteens game if each team fields 15 players at once instead of seven.
Each of these players has a specific number and responsibility during the two 40-minute halves in the match. A fifteens game is much different than the seven-on-seven Brandeis usually plays.
The team was rusty and committed many more penalties than usual. However, Brandeis turned in a very solid overall team effort against a high-quality team.
This was Brandeis' first home game since the death of team member Eliezer "Elie" Schwartz '04, who died last October. A moment of silence was observed before the game in Elie's honor. The team also observes a moment of silence after every practice to remember their beloved teammate.
The spring is more like an exhibition season for the team, used to polish their skills and recruit new players. This year, as returning champions, the Brandeis men placed fourth in a Division that includes 14 teams, proving themselves as one of the strongest.
The team will compete in the Selectside Tournament after break. Sponsored by the New England Rugby Football Union, this will be a meeting of every team in the league. Through the competition, an All-Star Team will be organized and scheduled to play in a summer league.
Next up, the men travel to Framingham State College on April 24.