by thepom02 | Sep 8, 2019 | Match Reports, News, Rugby
LPRFC D3 53 NWI Exiles 29
After a dominating first half where Park lead by 24 points before conceding a late try, and extending that lead to 34 – 5 early in the second period, Park suffered a second half scare before pulling away in the final quarter.
Finnegan opened the scoring after only 5 minutes following a stolen scrum and only three minutes later, Heatley and Togher combined to put away Carey.
Park’s forwards had to weather the running of much heavier opponents but looked to set up their speedy back when their own opportunities arose on offence.
It was Togher again who showed as provider, this time setting up Husselbee.
Knowing their best strategy was to play a fast game, Park extended the lead, with Olander taking a quick tap penalty and catching the Exiles unawares creating the try for the hard running Anderson.
Two early second half tries from Burke and Jewell looked to have put the game beyond doubt for Park but over the next 20 minutes, Park lost their way.
Four Exile tries brought the score to with five points and Park were on their heels. It was the captain Olander who restored the earlier confidence picking off a long pass on the Exile twenty-two and scoring under the posts.
Further score from Anderson and Burke in the waning moments eventually gave Park a comfortable win.
Team: Sowa (Primdahl), Mullen (Shaaban), Larios, Jewell, Togher, Heatley, Mechling, Carey (Eppert), Aiello, Olander, Frisch (Prengaman/Baldwin), Anderson, Husselbee (Huschen), Burke, Finnegan (Engle)
Try: Burke 2, Anderson 2, Finnegan 1, Carey 1, Jewell 1, Husselbee 1, Olander 1
Con: Anderson 3, Olander 1
by thepom02 | Aug 26, 2019 | Match Reports, News, Rugby
LPRFC D3 12 Chicago Riot 79
With a patched up side, Park were overmatched by one of the Division’s top teams. With several players unavailable, it was always going to be a difficult matchup especially in the pack where Park were fortunate to find 8 able bodies.
The Riot came out of the blocks hard and scored 4 tries in the opening quarter before Park were able to use the kicking game a little more effectively to relieve some of the constant pressure.
There were bright spots even in such a lopsided score. The Mullen to Carey connection in the lineout was a constant source of possession with Carey also being a threat at many of the breakdowns. Heatley too provided a nuisance defensively from the unfamiliar position of No 8.
It was winger turned wing-forward Mechling whose workrate impressed the most, throwing his body into the fray against much bigger foes.
While always difficult for Park’s backs to get much frontfoot ball, on the occasions they did, they looked to attack wide with newcomer Hennessy proving to be a slippery runner and Prengaman scoring a try in the corner on his return to the side.
In the second half “Miles” Davis scored Park’s second try with an interception from 30 yards and the clock was turned back to circa 1998, the last time Wilson appeared in the No 8 jersey.
Team: Primdahl (McCaffrey), Mullen, Larios, Carey (Wilson), David, Fraser, Mechling, Heatley (Eppert), Aiello, Olander, Hennessey (Engle), Huschen, Frisch, Prengamen (Davis), Burke
Try: Prengamen 1, Davis 1
Con: Olander 1
by thepom02 | Aug 18, 2019 | Match Reports, News, Rugby
PEORIA 40 LPRFC D3 24
An improved second half performance was not enough to come back against their first league opponents, but a last gasp try by Husselbee ensured that Park at least came away with a bonus point.
Park’s forwards surged towards the Peoria line in a desperate attempt for the fourth try and but several offsides penalties kept out Park’s runs until Baldwin spun a long pass to Park’s midfield where the debutant stretched out to touch down.
On a hot and humid day, Park struggled in the early stages, too often giving their opponents the opportunity to attack from penalties for offside. The scrum too struggled as Peoria had great front-foot ball to work with.
The No 8. was the first to take advantage with a crashing run from 10 yards and Peoria soon added to that early score with a second try.
After the early setbacks, Park started to get back into match and Schwartz burst through under the posts from the twenty-two to pull Park back within 7 points. However, the two-try advantage was restored soon afterwards when a Park dropped pass was scooped up by the Peoria flyhalf.
With five minutes remaining in the half, Peoria scored again and Park were left with a deficit of 21 points at halftime; the Peoria kicker perfect on his conversion attempts.
The introduction of David at tighthead and a reshuffle of the pack steadied Park’s scrum and while not going forward , they were able to secure their own ball.
With better possession, Park were able to open up their offence. The backline started to probe the wider channels and only indecision thwarted good opportunities. Ehlert, Szafran and Burke were willing to attack from all areas of the field.
Fleming pulled back a try, eschewing his support out wide but neatly stepping inside the covering defence. A long break from Peoria’s scrum-half who was instrumental in setting up their attacks all game looked to have taken the wind out of any comeback but in the final 7 minutes, first Schwartz – rounding the wing on the far left – then Husselbee, gave Park the bonus point.
Team: Sowa, Fraser (David 40), Leyman, Fleming, Perrizo (Barrie 57), Heatley (Mullen 57), Schwartz, Jewell, Aiello (Baldwin 55), Olander, Ehlert, Huschen (Burke 40), Husselbee, Szafran, Weimer
Try: Schwartz 2, Fleming 1, Husselbee 1
Con: Weimer 2
