GRR: AIC
Lightning and thunder plagued much of the rugby throughout the Northeast over the weekend, but with a little luck and some patience several of the games did indeed get played, including a very interesting non-conference meeting between top small-college team Babson, and NCR D1 side AIC.
Harvard defeated AIC 65-0 in a NIRA clash between a top DI side and a top DII side, but no one was talking about this game being a walkover.
Brown won the Liberty D1 conference Saturday night, defeating AIC 33-14.
Brown took the lead within the first few minutes behind a surging forward pack. The pressure forced a penalty which led to a lineout and a maul. The game remained 7-0 for about 15 minutes. Much of that was AIC on the front foot, but Brown's defense was very good.
AIC beat West Chester to win the NIRA DII final because they refused to allow themselves to ponder defeat, and because they finally had accepted the truth about themselves.
The finals matchups for the NIRA championship weekend are set after a couple of surprises Saturday.
Dartmouth beat Brown as expected, winning 56-5. Lilly Durbin paced the Big Green with four tries while Kristin Bitter added two.