After a fairly robust opening weekend last week, NIRA eases off a bit with several cross-divisional games.

Of the six games on the slate, four are across divisions.

Dartmouth takes on Bowdoin and this will be an excellent test for the Polar Bears, who have been D-III champions four years in a row. The Big Green will be fielding a fairly young lineup, so this is a perfect clash for both teams—younger Dartmouth players get a stern non-conference test, and Bowdoin gets a game against a well-drilled, organized, athletic team.

Navy looks to rebound from their loss to Queens against a Frostburg team that won over Emory & Henry last week. Frostburg got to halftime up 5-0 but exploded for three tries in the next 20 minutes and four in the final quarter of the match. Several freshmen and sophomores showed well, led by Natalie Allen and LJ Jordan.

Queens plays local rivals Warren Wilson College. WW's assistant AD is Katie Wurst, who was the first Head Coach for Queens. 

Conference Matchups

Licking their wounds a bit, Mount St. Mary's and Army meet up at West Point. Both lost fairly convincingly last week. Army lost 49-5 to Dartmouth and they just weren't as together as Dartmouth and perhaps just need a bit more time. MSM lost 106-0 to Harvard and really there's not much more to say about that. They will take a look at what they need to fix—such as fracture defensive lines—and this is a good time to show they have improved in those areas.

Harvard, meanwhile, comes off a team in which Lennox London and Courtney Taylor both scored a hat trick. Harvard got tries from 12 different players and they are experienced enough to know things will not be the same in several of their future games. Such as this Friday night against Quinnipiac.

WELCOME TO THE TEAM , JOJO MIGNONE

ESPN +: https://t.co/3sR9qzYx0d
International : https://t.co/hFuS6ia8bh#GoCrimson pic.twitter.com/ZqyBHsyqEe

— HarvardWRugby (@RadcliffeRugby) August 31, 2024

The Bobcats tied Brown 17-17 last week and had a lot of high points in that game. They are tough in tight and dynamic in their halfbacks. Harvard has to be favored, especially at home, but this should be an intriguing matchup.