Stanford vs. Cal Maritime

On November 21st, Stanford squared off under the lights in two physical games against the California Maritime Academy in Vallejo. The First XV led off, with kickoff at 7 pm. Cold weather and wet conditions made it a low-scoring affair. After thirty-six minutes of grinding play, the Keelhaulers struck first but missed the ensuing conversion. After half-time, Cal Maritime extended their lead to 8-0 off a penalty kick. Another twenty-three minutes passed before Stanford prop Andrew Thompson punched it into the try zone. Number eight Johnny McCormick just missed the difficult kick, bringing the score to 8-5 with seventeen minutes to play. Just when things were beginning to look grim, Stanford flyhalf Tommy Kramer intercepted an errant pass inside Cal Maritime's twenty-two, breaking multiple tackles to score the go-ahead try. McCormick's kick was successful, making the score 12-8 with ten minutes to go. From there, Stanford's defense was able to hold on for the win.

The Boivert squad immediately took the field following the First XV. Outside center Stephen Brown led off the scoring with a long try after three minutes of play. Wing Vala Dormiani missed the kick. Inside center Marcus Henderson then followed with a long break at fourteen minutes, with the conversion successful. Stanford 12, Cal Maritime 0. Maritime made the score 12-5 with a try at twenty-three minutes. Wing Elliott Luscombe responded three minutes later, bringing the score to 19-5, Stanford. Despite the Cardinal's best efforts, the Keelhaulers were able to score five more tries to close out the game. The final score was 32-19, Cal Maritime.

Stanford vs. Santa Rosa Junior College

Stanford Rugby played their first away game of the year on Sunday, November 16th, traveling to play Division Two team Santa Rosa Junior College on a scorching Autumn day. Despite some navigation mishaps (which necessitated an extremely short warmup), Stanford maintained their strong preseason form and cruised to a decisive victory.

The first try of the day went to openside Daniel Ibarra, who capitalized on Stanford's early go forward and dotted down in the 2nd minute, Johnny McCormick slotting the conversion. Not to be outdone, inside center Marcus Henderson hit his lines repeatedly and scored in the 8th and 10th minutes, one of the two conversions good. Blindside flanker Josiah Hall maintained the early onslaught, driving over for a try in the 15th minute. Santa Rosa regrouped and tightened their defense, throwing bodies at Stanford and slowing down the torrid Cardinal scoring pace. However, after some back and forth Henderson completed his hat-trick before halftime, despite losing a shoe 10m short of the goal line.

After some inspiring words from Backs coach Chris O'Brien, Stanford quickly regained their strong form of the first half, as No. 8 McCormick dove over for a try in the 50th minute, converting his own score. Outside center Stephen Brown followed up 2 minutes later, blasting through several defenders to score. The Stanford forward pack brought the game home, with Ibarra and prop Jason Prestinario scoring in the 60th and 70th minutes, respectively. The game was called early to make way for a short and violent B-side match; final score in the varsity match Stanford 61 - Santa Rosa nil.

Stanford vs. San Jose State, UC - Santa Cruz

On Saturday, November 8th, Stanford Rugby faced off against San Jose State and UC - Santa Cruz in two intense games.

The Boivert XV led off the action against the San Jose State Spartans with kickoff at 9 AM. It was a hard contested match with big hits coming from both sides. Stanford controlled play for much of the first twenty minutes but were unable to capitalize with a try despite several drives deep into Spartan territory. The momentum then swung San Jose's way, with four tries coming before the half. However, they only managed to convert one of the kicks, leaving the score at 22-0 after forty minutes.

Despite more spirited defense by the Cardinal, San Jose carried its momentum into the second half, scoring off the scrum at the forty-second minute. The Spartans continued their scoring with tries at fifty-three minutes, fifty-six minutes, sixty-four minutes, seventy-one minutes, and seventy-nine minutes. Again, San Jose's kicking success was limited, leaving the final score at 58-0. Though it may not have been reflected in the score, Stanford played a tough, physical game. Further, the game gave many of the rookies their first taste of the fifteen-a-side game.

The First XV followed the Boivert squad with a game against UC - Santa Cruz kicking off at 11 AM. Unlike last week against Santa Clara, Stanford came out swinging, with scrumhalf Travis Lehman punching in two tries at the fourth and twenty-ninth minute. Outside center Stephen Brown soon followed with a long break through the Santa Cruz line, scoring between the posts at thirty-one minutes. With three successful conversions by number eight Johnny McCormick, the score at half time was Stanford 21, Santa Cruz 0.

Stanford kept the pace up after the half. Two minutes after play resumed, inside center Marcus Henderson scored a try on a damaging thirty-five meter run. Five minutes later, hooker Chris Riklin barreled into the try zone. With the kick good, the score was 35-0, Stanford. With thirty minutes on the clock, Stanford brought in their bench. Hooker Eric Whitney, coming in for Riklin, scored next at fifty-five minutes. Despite the sizable lead, Stanford maintained their focus and intensity. Captain and flyhalf John Clark scored at sixty-eight minutes, followed again by Brown and Lehman to leave the final score at 63-0 for the first shutout of the season. Highlights included Lehman's second hat trick of the preseason and kickers Johnny McCormick and Lehman combining to finish a perfect seven for seven on conversions.

Stanford First XV vs. Santa Clara University

On Sunday, November 2nd, Stanford's 1st XV squared off against Santa Clara University at the Steuber Family Rugby Stadium. While the 2nd XV's game had to be canceled due to the wet conditions, the weather cleared up in time for kickoff at 11 am.

SCU came out strong, scoring in both the fourth and eleventh minute. However, they only managed to convert one of the ensuing kicks, making the score Santa Clara 12, Stanford 0. Stanford then came back with a vengeance, scoring five tries in a row to close out the first half. Open-side flanker Daniel Ibarra punched in the first try in the fifteenth minute; Johnny McCormick's kick was just wide. This was followed by fullback Charlie Olson's long try four minutes later, with the kick good to tie the score at 12. Travis Lehman, at scrumhalf, broke the tie with a try at twenty-two minutes, with the kick just wide again. McCormick, playing at number eight, then scored two tries of his own, converting both kicks, in the twenty-sixth and thirty-eight minutes. Stanford went into half-time with the score at 31-12.

After the half, Stanford kept up the momentum. Outside center Stephen Brown, playing in his first game for Stanford, scored in the fifth and then again in the twelfth minute. For both tries, Brown smashed through the Santa Clara back line, shedding multiple tacklers and fending off others with well-placed stiff-arms. Both conversions by McCormick were successful, giving Stanford a commanding 45-12 lead. McCormick then completed his own hat trick, scoring again in the sixteenth minute. With another good kick, the score was 52-12, Stanford. However, after a defensive lapse, Santa Clara was able to sneak a man around the blindside, scoring at twenty-two minutes but missing the kick. Stanford recovered, coming back to ice the game with two more tries. After a long break by wing Mike McGhie, prop Marcus Jamison dove near the post to score at the twenty-four minutes in, with the McCormick kick again successful. Stephen Brown concluded the scoring, matching McCormick's hat trick with another diving score with six minutes to go. McCormick again converted easily, leaving the final score 66-17.