This article comes from the Vassar Website, written by head coach, Tony Brown:


Men's Rugby Valiant Against Club Champion Baillou R.F.C.



NASSAU, BAHAMAS (March 22, 2007) -- Vassar faced the local champion club side Baillou R.F.C. and they knew that the home team had considerable pace for they had watched their win a week earlier over Freeport. But there was an air of confidence after the Yale win and on a balmy evening after some afternoon rain the game kicked-off with both sides itching to get matters underway.

Tries: Kenny Whitebloom (1), Tom Weishaupt (1), & Omar Fayyaz (1).


This was a very frustrating game from start to finish for the Vassar players. Although the first 20 minutes saw them dominate territorially they only had 1 try to show for their hard work.


This was a classic duel of a team orientated fifteen versus a collection of more experienced rugby players with a few truly outstanding athletes. Baillou has 3 members of the national team and they showed their explosive speed and jitterbug moves to good effect.

Follow up:

Vassar started strongly with the forwards hitting up off the fringes and making good yards. Baillou's heavier and slower forwards were loath to get onside and in fact, they never really did so consistently throughout the match. The referee, Mr. Bill Mills, did yellow card 2 players late in the game but by then the damage was done. One felt that had he pinged them earlier, then the game might have developed and got more shape. Instead it became a track meet with a succession of quick tap penalties allowing the
speedsters to dart through retreating defenders.


Vassar had led 5-0 after freshman Kenny Whitebloom's try but were pegged back 7-5 and then 14-5 as the Baillou backs cut through after quick tap penalties. The Baillou number 10 did a good job of getting the ball into the hands of these dangerous runners after the quick taps. But with all that talent in the threequarters it begs the question, how was it that they did not manufacture a try from set piece or phase play? The Vassar defense was breached a couple of times but fullback Aaron Gilson pulled off one try saving tackle and Kenny Whitebloom also did likewise.


So down 14-5 at the half Vassar had to re-group and put the offside interpretations and other disputed calls aside. This they did but not before a very dubious try was awarded when the Baillou prop went over from short range. It looked very much like he had dropped the ball but the try was given and it was 21-5. Vassar responded well and marched down the field scoring 2 tries. The first from captain Tom Weishaupt and the second from wing Omar Fayyaz. So each team had scored 3 tries but Vassar's kicker, Stanislav Genchev, was not in form so Baillou led 21-15.


Vassar pressed with just 10 minutes to go and was making inroads getting just inside the Baillou half and had the put-in at a scrum just on the right side of midfield. Flyhalf Andrew Abshere aligned on the left, the same side as the put-in, and number 8 Jared Martin picked up going right. Had Martin been able to make the pass to center James Cantres it would have been a foot race to the line, but the ball was knocked loose and Baillou's center picked up an flew downfield for the game clinching try.


It had been an exciting if error strewn game. For Vassar Jeff Rubesin played much of the second half with a twisted ankle, but the lad hung in there and stole plenty of scrum ball. Rupert Johnson once again showed that he is a talented player. He jumped well in the lineout and ran strongly with the ball.


To give this game some perspective, Vassar is just a few days in to their spring season having played 1 game in the last 4 months. In contrast Baillou won their division championship last Saturday and are at the latter stages of their season.


Vassar was also without a number of regular starters who were unable to make the tour. Perhaps even more important a number of elements of organization are still to be learnt by this core of players.



Source: Vassar College Athletics Website