Eagles Fail to Halt Army Charge

This past Saturday, October 31st, The Boston College Rugby Club traveled to West Point to play their final game of the regular season against the Army Black Knights. This game between two undefeated opponents would decide the seeding for the North Eastern Rugby Football Union playoffs. After a long ride, the BC Eagles took the field ready to accept the Army challenge. After receiving the ball off the game starting kick-off, the Eagles took it up the field and began to employ their kicking game. In the first ten minutes, the Eagles defense was able to contain the Army attack. However, Army scored their first try after overloading the right side of the BC defense. They converted the kick after and took an early 7-0 lead. The Black Knights continued to keep pressure on BC and within the next twenty minutes put up several more points, bringing the game to a score of 21-0. The Eagles continued to play with intensity but were victim to missed tackles on the outside which lead to the various scores. Army’s wings employed impressive steps and ball skills to navigate through the BC defense. Near the end of the half, a well placed grubber kick by Dave Walsh allowed BC to move deep inside Army territory. They put pressure on the return kick which was blocked by senior center Julien Collard-Seguin. John Remington Venners scooped up the loose ball and touched it down for a BC try. The Eagles failed to put through the conversion but put themselves on the board. The half-time score was Army leading 31-5. During the first half the Eagles played hard but coach Gene Mountjoy hoped his team could make the necessary changes to keep the Black Knights from putting anymore points on the board. “My boys need to stick to the game plan, keep possession while we can and kick deep and into open Army territory.”
The second half began and BC showed renewed energy and poise. The defense was able to force Army into making uncharacteristic mistakes, turnovers as well as penalties. BC had several chances to score but was stopped just short of the Army lines. Peter Kerr, a junior, and Kevin Wilkinson, a senior, were two Eagles who threatened the Army lead. BC’s greatest struggle throughout was on offensive scrums. The Eagles benefitted from an improved lineout in the second half. The BC defense was able to hold Army to 10 points in the second half, showing the teams resilience. Near the end of the match, BC moved the ball through the back line with impressive success and quieted the Army fans with their efforts. Although this game ended in a BC defeat, the team is hopeful they will get another chance to see the Black Knights in later rounds of the playoffs. Captain Conor Hynes had this to say after the game, “We tip our hats to a great Army side. This is certainly their most impressive team over the past few years. We were quite happy with our second half defensive performance and our refusal to give-in to a very strong attack. It is time to put in a hard week of work, as we expect another massive challenge from Dartmouth.”
In the upcoming week, the Eagles will prepare for their first playoff game against Dartmouth. This match between the number two seeded NERFU team Boston College, and number one seeded Ivy League team, Dartmouth, will kick off at eleven o’clock on Saturday November 7th at Dartmouth.