In a display that would warm the cockles of any rugby purist’s heart, Lincoln Park’s D2 side put on a masterclass of forward dominance and backline flair against Fox Valley on a day when the wind threatened to be the 16th man. The cool conditions did little to dampen the fire in the bellies of Park’s engine room, with locks JJ Driscoll and Garrett Mulkerin delivering a performance that had their opponents wishing they’d stayed in bed.

Driscoll, in particular, seemed to have raided the bag of tricks usually reserved for fancy-dan backs. His slight of hand with out-the-back passes left Fox Valley defenders grasping at shadows, while his brief cameo as an impromptu scrum-half had him channelling his inner Aaron Smith with such conviction that one half expected to see the All Black maestro applauding from the sidelines.

But it was Cooley who stole the headlines, his hat-trick a dagger to Fox Valley’s hopes. The centre carved through the opposition defence with the precision of a surgeon and the bedside manner of a butcher, leaving a trail of broken tackles and bruised egos in his wake.

Park’s ability to use the width of the pitch was a marked improvement from their previous outing. Polansky and DeLisa on the wings were more involved than a pair of politicians at a free buffet, their involvement crucial in stretching the Fox Valley defence to breaking point.

In the midfield, Carso brought a level of composure that had been sorely missed, his steady hand guiding Park’s attack with the assurance of a seasoned conductor. Yet, for all their dominance, Park still managed to leave points begging, their lack of clinical efficiency at times as frustrating as a keyless lock.

Fox Valley, to their credit, refused to roll over and play dead. A brace of late tries brought them closer on the scoreboard, if not in the actual contest. It was a reminder to Park that in rugby, as in life, it’s not over until the final whistle blows.

In the end, Lincoln Park’s victory was as comprehensive as it was encouraging. If they can marry this level of forward dominance and backline creativity with a more ruthless finishing touch, they’ll be a force to be reckoned with in the D2 ranks. As for Fox Valley, they’ll lick their wounds and hope that the next time they face Park, the wind blows in their favour – because on this evidence, they’ll need all the help they can get.

Team: Modev, Rivera, Leyman, Driscoll, Mulkerin, Fehr, Anderson, Jahner, Aiello, Carso, DeLisa, Cooley, Husselbee, Polansky, Finnegan

Finishers: Melody, Mainquist, DeBacker, Church, Nolan, Chrisos, McCann, Scully

Try: Cooley 3, Jahner 1, Leyman 1, DeLisa 1, Rivera 1, Finnegan 1
Con: Jahner 4