The Harvard rugby club started strong and finished strong in its season opener Saturday, overpowering a surprised Boston College team in an 18-0 shutout.

The experienced and hefty Harvard scrum dominated B.C.'s forwards, raising clouds of dust as it marched en masse toward the goal time and time again.

In the early minutes of the game, the pack rolled over the B.C. scrum in a 50-yard drive to the five-yard line. Scrum half Dave Barlow snatched the ball from a loose ruck and snuck it across the line for Harvard's first four points.

Niemi Boots Two

Forward Steve Niemi added two more points with the first of three conversion kicks.

Five minutes later, Harvard captain Ned Kuntz added another tally when he grabbed the ball in a line-out at the ten and stole past the B.C. forwards.

Kuntz touched the ball down five yards from the right sideline, so Niemi had to boot the conversion kick from a difficult angle. His long, accurate kick upped the score to 10-0.

Near the end of the half, B.C. had recovered from the shock of the Harvard onslaught well enough to mount an attack.

Three B.C. forwards took advantage of a defensive lapse in the Harvard backline and made it to the ten yard line for the Eagles' first real penetration into Harvard territory.

Pillsbury Does It Best

But members of the Harvard scrum stymied the drive and inside center Sam Pillsbury touched the ball back behind the end line, buying Harvard a free kick out from the twenty.

Inexperience was a worry to the Harvard backline, which carried three new ruggers. But the two new wings and one new center made up for their first game mistakes with aggressive defense and often impressive offense.

Strong side wing John Keeley nearly broke away twice in the second half, and Kevin Reilly broke up a B.C. sweep around the weak side wing that threatened to go all the way.

The backs picked up confidence and coordination in the second half, putting together some pretty plays that kept the ball in B.C. territory.

But it was the front line that sustained a drive late in the second half, putting Harvard on the board again. After a slow march down the field, six Harvard forwards pushed lock Larry Blaseszak over the line for the Crimson's final goal.