LPRFC D4 43 Fox Valley D4 14

LPRFC D4 43 Fox Valley D4 14

In a display that would have had the rugby gods nodding in approval, Lincoln Park's D4 side unleashed a performance against Fox Valley that was as swift as it was merciless. The match kicked off with a try that had barely given the spectators time to settle into their seats, as LaFlore etched his name into club folklore with possibly the fastest debut try in Lincoln Park's history. A mere 30 seconds had elapsed when, following a bustling 50-yard run that left Fox Valley defenders grabbing at thin air, LaFlore demonstrated the opportunism of a seasoned poacher, scooping up an errant Fox Valley pass to dot down. It was a start that had 'statement of intent' written all over it in bold, capital letters.

But Park were far from done. Just five minutes later, they served up a try of such exquisite quality that it deserved to be hung in the Louvre. A counter-attack initiated by Karris down the right flank, which had more zip than a caffeinated cheetah, was swiftly recycled. The ball then zipped through hands with the precision of a Swiss watchmaker before finding Beniana, who bulldozed over with all the subtlety of a rhino in a china shop.

In midfield, Clarke, Sisti and Foley turned the area into a no-go zone for Fox Valley, their tackling so ferocious it should have come with a health warning. Fox Valley runners were chopped down with such regularity, one half expected to see lumberjacks applying for the positions.

However, the rugby gods have a way of reminding us of the game's inherent dangers. A sobering moment came just before half-time when a Fox Valley player suffered a neck injury. The ever-vigilant ILBJ staff sprang into action with the efficiency of a well-oiled machine, and an ambulance was summoned. Our thoughts and best wishes go out for a full recovery, and it's heartening to hear that he's on the mend.

After the break, Park picked up where they left off, with Olander scoring a try so simple it could have been gift-wrapped. Picking up a fumbled ball a yard out under the posts, Olander probably expended more energy celebrating than actually scoring.

The introduction of fresh legs proved to be a masterstroke. Daley came off the bench like a man possessed, notching two tries from powerful runs and coming within a whisker of a hat-trick. Not to be outdone, Schoenes and Niewinski also got in on the act, crossing the whitewash on their respective wings with the eagerness of children racing for the last slice of cake.

In the end, Lincoln Park's performance was as complete as it was dominant. If they can maintain this level of play, opposition teams might start checking the fixture list with the same trepidation one reserves for a dentist appointment. As for Fox Valley, they'll be licking their wounds and hoping that the rugby gods show them more favor in their next outing. On this evidence, Lincoln Park's D4 side isn't just playing rugby - they're redefining it.

 

Team: Wilson J, Walker, David, Lyons Z, Smith, Sisti, Beniana, Foley, Kishore, Rosenfeld, Callovini, LaFlore, Clarke, Olander, Karris

Finishers: Lyons T, Rowley, Robb, Patat, Daley, Schoenes, Huschen, Niewinski

Try: Daley 2, LaFlore 1, Beniana 1, Olander 1, Schones 1, Niewinski 1
Con: Clarke 3, Walker 1

LPRFC D2 48 Fox Valley D2 19

LPRFC D2 48 Fox Valley D2 19

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

Chicago Lions 36 LPRFC D2 10

In the sweltering heat of a Chicago summer, Lincoln Park and the Chicago Lions clashed in a contest that laid bare the harsh realities of rugby's unforgiving nature. With the mercury pushing into the high 80s, Park blooded two debutants - Adam Cooley in the midfield and George Daley in the engine room - but it was their exit strategy, or lack thereof, that gifted the Lions an early advantage.

The Lions, ever the opportunists, pounced on Park's territorial generosity, turning a botched clearance into a scrum and subsequent try. The scoreboard ticked over again when a Park handling error was ruthlessly punished, the Lions' centre scooping up the loose ball to extend their lead.

Park's riposte came through the bullish Rivera, who peeled off a maul with the subtlety of a freight train to barge over. Rivera's carrying was a rare bright spot in an otherwise disjointed Park performance, his several strong runs a testament to his individual quality amidst the collective struggle.

Yet for all Rivera's endeavour, Park's lack of cohesion was their undoing. Handling errors plagued their attacking forays, while a litany of penalties at the breakdown - mostly for the cardinal sin of holding on - kept them pinned in their own half. The referee's whistle became a soundtrack of frustration for the Park faithful.

The Lions' dominance was further underlined by a penalty try just before the interval, though Park could take some solace from their scrum, which stood firm against the tide. The Lions, for their part, found their lineout to be less than a sure thing, offering Park a glimmer of hope in the set-piece battle.

As the second half unfolded, the Lions stretched their legs and their lead, dotting down twice more to put the result beyond doubt. Park, however, refused to go quietly into the night. DeLisa, with pace that would make a cheetah blush, scorched down the right touchline for a 40-yard try that served as a reminder of the latent talent in the Park ranks.

In the end, it was a day when the Lions roared and Park whimpered. For the debutants, Cooley and Daley, it was a baptism of fire that will either forge them into harder, sharper players or leave them questioning their life choices. As for Park, they'll need to address their continuity issues and breakdown discipline if they hope to avoid similar maulings in the future. The Lions, meanwhile, will take this victory and look to build on a performance that, while not flawless, showed enough teeth to suggest they'll be a force to be reckoned with this season.

2024 Fall Pre-season

2024 Fall Pre-season

Pre-season training has begun. While we already a couple of weeks into our preparation for the Fall 2024 season, we still welcome new players of all experience and ability to come out and join us.

Our current training sessions for August are split between two locations. Training runs from 7pm - 9pm both evenings.

Tues: Addison softball fields, just west of the golf course clock tower. This is a grass field.

Thurs: Chase Park (4701 N Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60640). This is a turf field.

Our coaching staff is here to help you become the best player you can be.

2024 Awards Banquet

2024 Awards Banquet

Tickets are now available for our 2024 Awards Banquet. This is one of our signature events of the year where we meet to honor the achievements of the past year.

Date: February 10

Time: 6pm

Venue: Topo Gigio (1516 N. Wells St)

The ticket includes dinner, open bar and the company of your favorite players for the duration of the evening. This event is not to be missed; tickets include a 3 hour open bar, antipasto, your choice of entree, and dessert.

We will be presenting our annual player recognition awards.

D2 Forward
D2 Back
D4 Forward
D4 Back
Rookie of the Year
Club man of the Year

There are a limited number of tickets available, so please order early if you do not wish to miss out. Please fill out the below to indicate you'll be joining us for the banquet at Topo Gigio on Saturday, February 10, 2024.

Submitting this form is a firm commitment. IF YOU SIGN UP AND DO NOT CANCEL YOUR RESERVATION BY JANUARY 16, 2024, YOU WILL STILL OWE THE FULL TICKET PRICE. You must fill out the form to confirm your food order and attendance then pay seperately via paypal or vemmo.

Google Banquet Order Form

Contact me, your friendly neighborhood Vice President, with any questions or cancelations (up to the deadline) at corey.jahner@gmail.com. If you need to make changes, please do not just re-submit the form. Contact me directly and I'll get you squared away.

You can use the PayPal link below or Zelle us (preferred) to pay for your tickets, but your food order must be entered in the Google Form. We need confirmation of numbers for the venue asap

Zelle: lprfcpayments@gmail.com



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