MIT RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB

MIT made the long trip to Saratoga this weekend in their latest league fixture. Despite a delayed kick off the game got eventually got underway at a tremendous pace.

The B-side game followed the pattern of the A game this week, a physical contest in which some defensive lapses allowed Saratoga the win.

MIT kicked off with the breeze and the opening phases saw some good one off running and equally good defence. The Saratoga winger capitalized on a moment of defensive weakness to breakthrough and score from long range.

MIT reacted positively and out together some good phases of possession with line breaks from number 8, wing and centre. One of the line breaks was finished deftly by winger Patrick to give MIT the lead 7-5.

MIT opened their 2012 Fall season with a home tie against Seacoast. Having only narrowly defeated the same opposition in the previous season’s opener MIT knew they would face a stiff test.

The first period of the game began with both sides carrying a lot of first receiver ball and feeling each other out at the set piece and breakdown. Indeed some good work by the visitors at the breakdown was repelling the MIT attack with well executed turnovers.

MIT’s B side lined out to face Seacoast on Saturday in their first outing of the year.
The home side started well, getting dominance at scrum time and working their way into Seacoast territory. As in the A game however, Seacoast held supremacy at the breakdown and their turnovers proved crucial in the opening period leading to a pair of early tries.
MIT responded with a try of their own to leave the half time score 17-5.

MIT began their Fall 2012 Season with a home challenge game against Imperial College (London) on Sunday. The game was played in excellent late summer conditions with a solid surface lending itself to good running rugby.
Imperial got the better of the early exchanges as MIT took a long time to settle. MIT failed to control their own possession leading to handling errors and allow Imperial to stay in their territory for much of the first quarter.

MIT proved beyond doubt they are the dominant force in New England's third division, by lifting the NERFU cup after an undefeated weekend of comprehensive victories in the picturesque town of Newport RI.