Harvard clinched 2nd in the National Intercollegiate Rugby Association league with a strong defensive performance and a 21-7 victory over West Point Saturday.

On a wet day in Cambridge this game was a rematch of the 2019 NIRA final that Harvard won. They won this one too with wing Emma Kearney once again finding room to run. After scoring two tries in last week's game against Dartmouth, Kearney repeated the effort with a pair in the first half. Her first put the Crimson ahead 5-0. West Point's Codi Butt replied with a try and the conversions put Army up 7-5 just past the midway point of the first half.

But Harvard replied quickly, using another quick-strike weapon in center PK Vincze. Anjalika Yberna put the freshman was through for her first of two on the day and Harvard was up 10-7.

Army came back to threaten but the Harvard defense held as the first half ended.

In the second half, center Brogan Mior found Vincze for her second try of the game, and Mior's conversion made it a 17-7 lead. Army couldn't bust through and couldn't find space on the edge, and after Harvard added a try from Kearney, that was it.

Army plays Penn State next week before turning attention to the NIRA playoffs. On November 13 West Point will be back at Cambridge for the NIRA semifinals; Harvard has a 13-game winning streak at home.

Harvard's next game will be that semifinal.

Meanwhile, Dartmouth beat Brown 47-5 to finish an undefeated league season, Seven different Big Green players scored tries.

Quinnipiac beat Mount St. Mary's 29-5 and according to our calculations, bypass Brown for 4th and a place in the semis due to more bonus points; this despite the fact that Brown was 3-2-1 and Quinnipiac 3-4.

We will confirm that.