HANOVER, NH—On a beautiful fall day in Hanover, Dartmouth Rugby shut down Yale to maintain their position at the top of the men’s Ivy League North. For the second time this season, both the 1^st and 2^nd XV held an opponent scoreless, this time winning 42-0 and 97-0, respectively.

Hoping to improve their play after sloppy performances in the previous two weeks, the Big Green came flying out of the gates. After some great continuity from the forwards through the middle of the field, the ball was quickly recycled and spread wide to junior wing Kevin Clark for his first try of the game. Madison Hughes converted the try, bringing the score to 7-0. Taking advantage of their improving kick-chase game, Dartmouth kept the pressure on following the first score by pinning Yale back.

This tactic led to turnovers and great field position for the home team, and Clark was able to take advantage, adding three more tries in the first half, with one coming off a swerving run into Yale territory by center Parker Gilbert. Hughes knocked through another conversion and a penalty to bring the score to 27-0 at the break.

The second half started much the same as the first, with Clark putting away a try in the corner for his 5^th try of the match. Hughes hit the conversion and Dartmouth led 34-0. Following the try, Yale began to find some success playing a possession game. But the Big Green defense stood strong, refusing to allow Yale to gain yardage and turning the ball over when support was too slow.

Wing Justin Ciambella eventually got in on the scoring with a nice break down the sideline. Gilbert added a penalty in the 79^th minute to give the Big Green a 42-0 lead and the victory.

“We maintained our structure well. The forwards did a great job of securing us quick ball, allowing our backs to finish,” said Dartmouth co-captain Quinn Connell when asked about the key to the Big Green victory. He noted particularly strong performances in the forward pack from Peter Savarese, Michael McDavid, Andrew Berson, Dylan Jones, and Lawrence Anfo-Whyte.

“We want to build on these performances and keep increasing our level of play,” added Connell following the match.

Next weekend Dartmouth faces Brown, also victorious on Saturday,  in a match that will decide the first place finisher in the Ivy North division.