McGill Flattens Ruggers

The biggest game of the rugby season wasn't muich of a game this year as McGill College devastated all three Harvard sides (A-side 45-3, B-side 28-6 and C-side 6-0) over the weekend in Montreal.

The A-side contest was 115th year of the oldest international intercollegiate rivalry--dating back to 1872. The Canadians took home the Cvo cup, the prize given to the winners of the annual contest, for the third straight year.

The hosts dominated the undermanned ruggers (only 25 made the trip) from the offset, taking a 16-3 lead at the half. Harvard might have closed the lead to 16-6 if the wind had not swallowed an attempted penalty kick.

"After that, the dam broke," Co-captain Ray LaRaja said.

The experienced hosts took full control in the second half, using the wind to assist their kicking game. McGill's punter continually boomed the ball into Harvard's territory, forcing the ruggers to go the distance of the field to score.

"We knew coming in we were in trouble," Co-captain Jon Israel said. "But playing a team like that makes us realize how far we have come."

The ruggers were unable to penetrate the tryzone, scoring only on a Nathan Koenig penalty kick.

One bright spot for the Crimson was the play of the freshmen and sophomores on the B- and C-sides.

The Crimson (2-5) has an off-week and will visit Columbia November 15. Harvard closes out its fall season at Yale the following week, November 22.