New faces, old habits — Lincoln Park click into gear

by thepom02 | Mar 29, 2026 | Columnists, Featured, Match Reports, News, Rugby

New faces, old habits — Lincoln Park click into gear

Lincoln Park arrived at NW Woodsmen with a squad of strangers. They left with 65 points, a hatful of tries and the unmistakable look of a side beginning to find itself.

Let us not overcomplicate this. Lincoln Park went to the Woodsmen, put 65 points on the board and barely looked troubled doing it. On a crisp afternoon that suited running rugby, they ran, they muscled, they improvised — and they won by a distance. Some performances need dissecting. This one simply needs acknowledging.

The real story, though, was not the scoreline. It was the context. Many of these men had never played together before. New combinations, unfamiliar voices calling in the lineout, alliances formed in the warm-up rather than across a season. And yet it clicked. That tells you something about the character in this squad.

The two French debutants deserve their billing. Chapuis is the kind of player who makes you lean forward — he reads the game a step ahead, finds the shoulder of the carrier and arrives at pace. His try, finishing off a sharp Cazenave break down the right, was the work of a player who knows exactly where he is supposed to be. Bricteux, meanwhile, brought the abrasion the back row demands. Energy, contest, presence. You always knew where he was.

In the loose, the Suldaze brothers were an intriguing combination. David does the quiet, essential work — the kind that never makes the highlights reel but makes everything else possible. Gio is the blunter instrument: physical, hard to shift, the sort of player opposition ball-carriers would rather not see arriving. He did let a clever Rosenfeld chip — and it was clever, the sort of audacity Finn Russell would sign off on — bounce untouched. He will know. These things happen early in a season.

Finnegan was the backs' standout. A hat-trick of tries, each one earned by doing the unglamorous thing — tracking the kick, committing to the chase, finishing without fuss. He had the instincts of a Bielle-Biarry operating well within himself. That should worry opponents when the pressure goes up.

Up front, Lincoln Park won the scrum battle they were not supposed to win. The Woodsmen pack had the ballast; Lincoln Park had the technique, the drive and the bloody-mindedness. Loomis set the tone, Mulkerin gave the scrum its go-forward and Geiser — ever alert, always in the right channel — picked up his try and conversion through sheer willingness to work.

But it was Medero who wrote the afternoon's headline. A hooker by trade, asked to play scrumhalf. Many players accept such requests and do a job. Medero lit up the afternoon. His 60-metre break, including a cool-headed step around the covering fullback, was the act of a man entirely comfortable in borrowed territory. File that one away. There is more to come from him.

Plenty still to sharpen, of course. There always is when a squad is this new to itself. But the foundations are there. Lincoln Park head home with a result worth remembering. The Woodsmen, to their credit, kept competing. Good hosts, honest opponents.

As opening statements go, this will do nicely.

Team: Mulkerin, Dorn, Geiser, Loomis, Sisti, Bricteux, Suladze D, Suladze G, Cazenave, Clarke, Callovini, Chapuis, Hudson, Jay, Finnegan

Finishers: Panzica, Medero, Leyman, Driscoll, DeBacker, Lyons T, Dollins, Spanola, Walsh E, Mazy, Rosenfeld

Tries: Finnegan 3, Geiser 1, Loomis 1, Chapuis 1, Clarke 1, Suladze G 1, Rosenfeld 1, Medero 1, Cavenave 1
Cons: Geiser 1, Pearman 4

LPRFC D4 36 Eau Claire Orcs 12

by thepom02 | Oct 27, 2024 | Featured, Match Reports, News, Rugby

Park's Fellowship Vanquishes Orc Horde in Epic Battle on the Plains

In a display that would have made Gandalf himself stroke his beard in approval, Lincoln Park's warriors carved out a victory against the Eau Claire Orcs with the precision of Elvish bladework and the raw power of Dwarvish mining.

Before the assembled masses had settled into their seats, McCann - channeling the swift-footed Legolas - plucked an errant pass from the mists like an arrow from his quiver, sprinting 40 yards as if pursued by the Nazgûl themselves. The conversion sailed true, and Park had drawn first blood.

The Orcs, true to their namesake, attempted to bludgeon their way back with all the subtlety of a cave troll in a pottery shop. But they reckoned without the defensive masterclass of Foley and Church, who emerged like twin Rohirrim, scything down runners with clinical efficiency. Their presence at the breakdown was reminiscent of Gimli and Legolas's friendly competition, each trying to outdo the other in their count of successful turnovers.

Modev, clearly having feasted on lembas bread (or its modern equivalent - a Friday Chinese platter), displayed the endurance of an Ent, steamrolling through the opposition with metronomic consistency. His performance in the engine room would have earned approving nods from the forgemasters of Moria.

As the battle wore on, the dynamic duo of Daley and LaFlore - Park's answer to the Riders of Rohan - thundered through gaps in the defensive line. Daley's burst through the middle, finding Lee with a pass that had the precision of Galadriel's foresight, led to a spectacular corner try that had the crowd rising like the beacons of Gondor.

Yet, despite the victory, one could sense that Lincoln Park D4 felt this was but a taste of what’s to come. Moments of inaccuracy in the enemy’s 22 denied them the ruthlessness that true champions possess. But as Tolkien himself might remind us, all great heroes are forged in the fires of challenge and adversity. And for Park, this performance hinted that even greater glories lie ahead if they can sharpen their swords and strike with precision when opportunities next arise.

But for now, as the sun sets on another Saturday battlefield, Park can raise their mead horns high. The Orcs return to their stronghold vanquished, while Park's warriors live to fight another day, their quest for glory continuing.

Team: Cullen, Panzica, Modev, Lyons Z, Swancy, Church, Foley, Chrisos, Kishore, McCann, Lee, Daley, LaFlore, Walther, Rosenfeld

Finishers: Rottiers, Wilson J, Harrison, Smith, Olander, Karris, huschen, Carroll

Try: McCann 1, Lee 1, Church 1, Daley 1, LaFlore 1, Karris 1
Con: LaFlore 3

LPRFC D4 52 SSI 15

by thepom02 | Oct 13, 2024 | Featured, Match Reports, News, Rugby

In the sweltering heat of an unseasonably hot day, Lincoln Park D4 delivered a performance that will echo through the annals of Midwest rugby, dismantling SSI with a display of power, precision, and occasional profligacy.

The first half was a tale of Park dominance tempered by the cruel hand of fate and the eagle eye of the officials. Twice, the men in gold thought they had crossed the whitewash, only for their jubilation to be cut short. First, it was Delisa, the opportunistic winger, who pounced on a Rosenfeld grubber, only to be ruled to have fumbled at the crucial moment. Then came Clarke's moment of despair, his try chalked off for a knock-on that had escaped all but the most discerning of eyes.

But Park would not be denied. The converted number 8, Chrisos, injected an element of attacking flair that SSI simply couldn't contain. It was his pass that finally unleashed DeLisa, who crossed for a try that had been coming since the first whistle. Rottiers, a battering ram in human form, had softened the Irish defense with a bone-crunching break that set the stage for Delisa's score.

As the half wore on, Park's superiority began to tell. McCann and Lee added their names to the scoresheet, stretching the lead to a seemingly insurmountable margin. But rugby, in its infinite wisdom, always has a twist in the tale. A momentary lapse in concentration, a misjudgment of the clock, gifted SSI a 5m lineout. From this sliver of opportunity, the Irish conjured a try, a reminder that no lead is truly safe in this most unforgiving of sports.

If the first half showcased Park's potential, the second was a masterclass in its realization. Delisa, not content with a single score, carved through the Irish defense with a run so mesmeric it left spectators questioning the laws of physics. But it was the power game that truly broke Irish hearts and bodies alike.

Daley and LaFlore, twin titans of destruction, rampaged through the midfield with all the subtlety of a freight train and twice the impact. Daley, in particular, seemed to take personal offense at any attempt to tackle him, brushing aside defenders to score a brace that will give the SSI tacklers nightmares for weeks to come. Not to be outdone, LaFlore added his own long-range effort, a try that spoke volumes of Park's fitness and ambition.

This was more than a victory; it was a statement. Lincoln Park D4 have secured the Midwest's number one seed heading into the playoffs, and on this evidence, they will take some stopping. For SSI, there will be soul-searching and bruise-counting in equal measure. For the neutrals, it was a reminder of rugby's capacity to thrill, even in the face of oppressive heat.

As the dust settles on this encounter, one can't help but feel that we've witnessed the emergence of a force in Midwest rugby. Lincoln Park D4 have thrown down the gauntlet. The question now is: who dares to pick it up?

Team: Wilson J, Rottiers, Modev, Smith, Swancy, Church, Foley, Chrisos, Scully, McCann, DeLisa, Daley, Clarke, Lee, Rosenfeld

Finishers: Rasmussen, Harrison, David, Olander, LaFlore, Walsh E, Schoenes, Lakin

Try: DeLiasa 2, McCann 1, Lee 1, Daley 2, LaFlore 1, Clarke 1,
Con: Clarke 5, Olander 1

LPRFC D2 24 SSI 43

by thepom02 | Oct 13, 2024 | Featured, Match Reports, News, Rugby

In the blustery winds of Chicago, Lincoln Park's D2 side found themselves locked in a titanic struggle with SSI Irish, a match that ebbed and flowed like the nearby Lake Michigan until the men in white finally broke free in the dying embers of the contest.

The Irish, with the swagger of a team that had tasted victory before, struck early and often. Two well-worked tries in the opening stanza gave them a lead that lesser teams might have found insurmountable. But Lincoln Park, showing the grit and determination that has become their hallmark, refused to wilt under the onslaught.

It was Thomas who provided the spark for the home side, finishing off a move started by Wafer that had more twists and turns than a Dublin alleyway. The mercurial Carso, with a chip kick that Ronan O'Gara would have been proud of, set the stage. Finnegan, like marauding Celtic warriors of old, surged forward, dribbling the ball over the whitewash with all the finesse of Messi, before touching down.

The second half opened with the Irish extending their lead, threatening to turn the contest into a procession. But Lincoln Park, much like the city they represent, refused to go quietly into the night. Carso, with a sidestep that would make Shane Williams blush, carved through the Irish defense like a hot knife through butter, bringing the home crowd to their feet and hope to their hearts.

As the clock ticked past the hour mark, the Irish found another gear, one that Lincoln Park couldn't match. They pulled away, leaving the home side to chase shadows in the fading light.

But there was still time for one last moment of magic. Husselbee, in his Park swansong, crossed the whitewash to put an exclamation point on a career that has been nothing short of remarkable. It was a try that spoke of defiance in the face of defeat, a reminder that in rugby, as in life, it's not about how you start, but how you finish.

A word must be saved for young Panzica, thrust into the fray early after Rivera's unfortunate injury. The lad responded with a tackling display that would have made Sam Underhill proud, proving once again that rugby's greatest stories are often written by its understudies.

In the end, the Irish prevailed, their late flourish proving decisive. But Lincoln Park, in defeat, showed the kind of spirit that wins championships. On this evidence, their time will come, and when it does, the rugby world had better be ready.

Team: Melody, Rivera, Leyman, Davey, Mulkerin, Fehr, DeBacker, Anderson, Aiello, Carso, Thomas, Cooley, Wafer, Finnegan, Walsh J

Finishers: Panzica, Cullen, Mainquist, Keck, Lyons Z, Nolan, Polansky, Husselbee

Try: Thomas 1, Finnegan 1, Carso 1 Husselbee 1
Con: Walsh 2

LPRFC D2 21 CRC Condors 29

by thepom02 | Sep 26, 2024 | Featured, Match Reports, News, Rugby

In the sweltering cauldron of a late summer's day, with the mercury stubbornly clinging to the 90-degree mark, Lincoln Park and the CRC Condors served up a rugby feast that was as hot as the weather. This was a match that ebbed and flowed like a tempestuous tide, with both sides trading blows in a contest that kept spectators on the edge of their seats until the final whistle.

Park burst out of the blocks with the ferocity of a caged lion, capitalising on a Peri fumble from the kick-off. It took just 90 seconds for Husselbee to carve through the Condors' defence like a hot knife through butter, setting the tone for what was to be a pulsating encounter.

The Park faithful were soon on their feet again as the irrepressible Rivera, a man seemingly with a magnetic attraction to the try line, crashed over for his fourth score in as many games. One wonders if there's a more in-form finisher in the league at present.

In the tight, Melody's return to the starting XV proved a masterstroke. His scrum presence was formidable, but it was in the loose where he truly shone, embarking on barnstorming runs that required a small army of Condors to bring him down. Yet, for all their muscle up front, Park's Achilles heel proved to be the lineout. While not completely catastrophic, it was a constant source of disruption, with the Condors proving to be particularly adept aerial predators.

As the game wore on, it was Cooley who emerged as the fulcrum of Park's attack. His powerful surge at the start of the second half was a thing of beauty, scything through the Condors' defence before finding the ever-present Leyman, who in turn fed the charging Thomas. It was rugby straight from the textbook, executed with clinical precision.

In the trenches, Davey was omnipresent, a human vacuum cleaner who seemed to materialise wherever there was loose ball, consistently pushing Park over the gain line. But perhaps the unsung hero of the day was Polansky, who put on a tackling masterclass. His ability to bring down the Condors' MLR fullback in one-on-one situations was nothing short of remarkable, a testament to his technique and tenacity.

As the clock ticked down, with Park holding a slender lead, the match hung in the balance. It was then that their lineout frailties came back to haunt them, a sloppy set-piece gifting the Condors a crucial opportunity with just 15 minutes left on the clock.

Yet, in those final, frenetic minutes, we witnessed the true mettle of this Park side. Twice they held up Condor mauls on the goal line, defending their try line with the desperation of men fighting for their lives. It was heroic stuff, the kind of defensive stand that can define a season.

The match ended on a sour note, with a scuffle resulting in red cards for both sides. It was an unfortunate blemish on what had been a thrilling contest, a reminder that even in the heat of battle, cool heads must prevail.

In the end, this was a match that had everything - skill, passion, drama, and no small amount of controversy. While Park will rue their lineout woes, they can take heart from their resilience in the face of intense pressure. As for the Condors, they proved themselves worthy adversaries, pushing Park to the very limit.

As the dust settles on this epic encounter, one thing is clear: if this is a taste of what's to come this season, rugby fans are in for a treat. The question now is, can Park build on this performance and iron out their set-piece issues? Only time will tell, but one thing's for certain - they won't have many tougher tests than this one.

Team: Melody, Rivera, Leyman, Driscoll, Mulkerin, Davey, Debacker, Jahner, Aiello, Carso, Polanksy, Cooley, Husselbee, Thomas, Finnegan

Finishers: Panzica, Cullen, Modev, Anderson, Fehr, Nolan, Daley, Wafer

Try: Husselbee 1, Rivera 1, Thomas 1
Con: Jahner 3

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