M. Ruggers Keep Hopes For Tourney Bid Alive

One game to go.

The Harvard rugby team drubbed Northeastern yesterday, 26-12, to keeps its hopes of qualifying for the New England Tournament alive. The Crimson must pass one more league test--a matchup against Holy Cross next Saturday--to earn a rematch with league-leading Boston University in the tourney on November 5th.

After losing a tough 14-10 match to the Terriers in its first league game, Harvard has knocked off Tufts, Boston College and now the Huskies in successive weeks. Another league loss could have removed the Crimson's hopes of revenge.

Last year, the Crimson's match against Northeastern ended in a brawl before time had elapsed. Yesterday's edition--played at Franklin Park, the Crimson's temporary home field--was relatively peaceful from start to finish, and the Crimson controlled the game throughout.

Harvard Co-Captain Andrew Pinkerton led the scoring with 15 points, all off kicks. Freshman Andy Howard also tallied two tries.

"It would make Northeastern's season to beat Harvard," Pinkerton said. But Northeastern was only able to muster two penalty kicks for offense, and played most of the match with its own goalline within easy reach.

"We drove their scrum all over the field," said Harvard Coach Martyn Kingston. "At some points we were driving them 20 meters back."

"Although a rematch with B.U. is more likely now, we are not yet ready," Kingston said. However, he was pleased with the improvement from last week's ugly win over B.C.

"Our set scrum and line out work against B.C. went fairly badly, despite the win," said Kingston. "Both areas showed improvement today, especially in the forwards' play."

Co-Captain Eric Chehab, a forward, won MVP honors for the match.

The Crimson's league finale with the Crusaders will be played Saturday at Franklin Park. On Sunday, the Crimson will take on an alumni side, also at Franklin Park.