Holiday Party (Toys For Tots)

by thepom02 | Dec 15, 2022 | Charity, Featured, Fundraising, News, Social, Toys For Tots

LPRFC is excited to host our annual ugly sweater toy drive to suppor RMHC Chicago and Northwest Indiana at Ravinia Brewing Company’s Chicago brewpub. Join us this Saturday at 6pm with your favorite holiday sweater and a toy to donate.

Below are more ways to donate!

drop a toy off anytime before Sunday 12/18 in our drop box at Ravinia Brewing Company
send a donation on Venmo to baker-leyman
send a donation on zelle to bakerleyman@gmail.com

All donations will go to supporting Ronald McDonald House of Chicago

D4 win CARFU Championship

by thepom02 | Oct 31, 2022 | Featured, Match Reports, News, Rugby

LPRFC D4 8 Silverbacks 5

Park had to dig deep into their reserves to defeat their divisional opponents after defeating the Silverbacks with a late come from behind rally last week.

This was an attrition game. Neither side yielded an inch. Every yard was fought hard, and breaks were few and far between.

Park suffered an early setback when Sampey went down to a dislocated ankle in only the 9th minute. A long delay waiting for the ambulance did nothing to lower the adrenaline pumping the the players.

Mainquist provided a physical presence in the early stages with some thumping tackles, while Panzica, despite his lack of size, was scything in his own tackle technique.

Thomas maintained Park’s offense structure and marshaled his back line and forwards, but the early going was mostly between the twenty-twos.

In the 28th minute, Jewell continued his fine scoring streak by finishing a well-worked team move by taking a wide pass out on the left.

Nicholas, Short, and McDonald gained valuable yards by simply maintaining possession up the middle, allowing their teammates to reorganize and regain momentum.

Park’s defense finally gave way to a powerful run from the Silverback’s No. 8 from the base of a short scrum.

The second half started off similarly.
Both teams worked hard to seize opportunities that were scarce. As new players entered the fray, no one took a step back. The tackling was fierce and frequently in groups of twos and threes. No player was left alone by his team.

A Thomas penalty in the 52nd minute gave Park a lead they would never relinquish.
Even when the scrum creaked, Park dug in their heels and fought until the end.
Twice, it appeared that they might have sealed the victory with a late try, but both times it was called back for a forward pass.

A goal line stance midway through the half was a game-changing moment.
The Silverbacks charged towards Park’s try line time and again, but Park repelled them. It was a moment of destiny.

Park had to negotiate one final scrum in the dying seconds, and just as it looked like the Silverbacks might get a steal, Lyons rescued the ball with his foot, and Thomas kicked it clear out of bounds for the win.

Team: Short (David), Nicholas (Rowley), McDonald, Maninquist (Patat), Foley (Lyons), Brown, Panzica (Stern), Jewell, Thomas, Olander, Rosenfeld, Barnett, Hoedeman, Sampey (Callovini), Carroll (Moran)

Try: Jewell 1
Pen: Thomas 1

D2 claim second place in division to complete the season

by thepom02 | Oct 31, 2022 | Featured, Match Reports, News, Rugby

LPRFC D2 31 Milwaukee Barbarians 24

Park earned a hard-fought victory in their final match of the season, which determined who finished second in the division to Green Bay.

Park dominated possession for much of the first half, but a failure to maintain possession inside their opponent’s twenty-two thwarted their confident build-up play.
Park looked as fluid as they have all season in the middle third of the field, with quick rucks providing a platform for the backs.
Half breaks were constantly created by the support lines.

In the 11th minute, Kirby bulldozed his way over wide on the left with patient picks sucking in the Barbarians defense.

Park didn’t score again until the 35th minute, often avoiding short lineouts.
Griffin, a physical presence in the back row all day, cut inside to finish a good move following a turnover after a long run down the left wing had edged the Barbarians ahead by a conversion.

This lead lasted just seconds. The Barbarians were first to the kickoff, tapping back to a supporting player who ran almost unopposed through the disorganised Park defence.

Park started the second period with the same confidence they had started the first, despite being down two points at halftime.
Due to a Carso injury midway through the first half, McCann took over at fly-half, but Daley in at center gave Park plenty of front foot ball.

Park’s next try came from wide on the right wing. Thomas, who appeared to be boxed in close to the touchline, gave his opposite number the tiniest of inside feints before a viscious cut took him clear down the wing for a 50-yard score

Laux extended Park’s lead six minutes later with a more routine strong drive, and Park’s lead became a little more comfortable.

The Barbarians fought their way back in the fourth quarter. A try at the 57-minute mark brought them within a try, and momentum was shifting in their favor. With only four minutes remaining, another try brought them within two points of Park, but a missed conversion kept Park ahead.

The Barbarinas fought hard for the victory and had one final break down their right wing, which Husselbee intercepted with a thumping tackle and then settled the match with a kick and chase in the final seconds.

Team: Melody, Rasmussen(Schwartz), Kirby, Moline (Driscoll), Leyman (Debacker), Griffin, Laux, Jahner, Aiello (Scully), Carso (Daley), Walther (Caccappolo), Husselbee, McCann, Thomas, Finnegan (Carey)

Try: Kirby 1, Griffin 1, Thomas 1, Laux 1, Husselbee 1
Con: Jahner 3

Lincoln Park D4 continue winning start

by thepom02 | Oct 1, 2022 | Featured, Match Reports, News, Rugby

LPRFC D4 39 Chicago Riot 10

A convincing win for the Flying Forties as they take their league record to 2-0. Park were comfortable in all phases as backs and forwards combined for 6 tries.

It took only two minutes for Park to get on the scoreboard when Olander broke through from his fly-half position. Sampey converted and his accuracy from the tee this season is helping Park add to their points and apply pressure to opposing teams.

Despite an inexperienced second row – Patat moving up from the backrow and David a more welcome move back from the coalface – Park’s scrum was solid and gave Jewell from No. 8 and Thomas at 9 a solid platform from which to launch attacks.

Brown, making his first full start, was a busy and energetic addition to the backrow and there is more promise to come.

Park did receive a temporary setback in the twelth minute when the Riot pulled back a try, a rare letdown in Park’s defence.

Jewell scored Park’s second try finishing a great team move with a pass from Carroll and a long run from Sampey added to the score in the 30th minute.

Early in the second half, the Riot once again gave Park cause for concern but following this early try, Park took control of the game.

Rosenfeld put Callovini clear to touchdown and Jewell added his second.

A diving tackle from Short close to Park’s line did prevent a Riot foray turning into points but a try, conversion and penalty from Sampey closed out the game.

Team: Short, Nicholas (Rowley), Sowa, David, Patat (Panzica), Lyons, Brown, Jewell (Manyara), Thomas (Kishore), Olander, Rosenfeld, Barnett (Huschen / Kravchuk), Carroll (Brady), Callovini (Herrera), Sampey

Try: Jewell 2, Sampey 2, Olander 1, Callovini 1
Con: Sampey 3
Pen: Sampey 1

Park lose to Green Bay in battle of undefeated.

by thepom02 | Oct 1, 2022 | Featured, Match Reports, News, Rugby

LPRFC D2 17 Green Bay 29

In a battle of previously undefeated teams, Park went down to a strong Green Bay squad. The first half of this match was a to and fro affair but Green Bay pulled away from a resolute Park in the second period.

It was a stalemate in the opening quarter though Park had the majority of possession but were unable to make a breakthrough. They were able to exert scrum dominance with more than one that folded the Green Pack back over itself but penalties were not forthcoming.

It was Green Bay who took the lead in the 17th minute with a break from their winger before an unchallenged lineout allowed Jahner to level the scores. Green Bay backed off to prevent a Park catch and drive but were caught out when Jahner took full advantage of the space opening up to run through alone.

Green Bay restored their lead when their left winger cut back inside as they overloaded Park’s defence.

Five minutes before halftime, Park once again tied up the game as Husselbee saw space behind Green Bay’s defence and chased down his own kick to touch down for a try.

The second half began in much the same way as had the first. Neither team was able to gain a significant advantage with both defences having the upperhand. The game was broken open between the 53rd and 55th minutes when two Green Bay tries pushed them out to a 10 point advantage.

A third Green Bay try pushed their lead even further before a Park try in the dying moments from Carso gave them a small chance of a bonus point but Green Bay closed out the game.

Team: Melody, Laux, Kirby, Driscoll (Carey), Leyman (McDonald), Griffin (Mulholand), Debacker, Jahner, Aiello (Nolan), Carso, Caccappolo (Daley / Hoedeman), Husselbee (Scully), Thomas, Finnegan, Walsh

Try: Jahner 1, Husselbee 1, Carso 1
Con: Jahner 1