Men's rugby put forth a clinical performance in a 43-5 win over Mid-South Conference rival Arkansas State Saturday evening at Hunter Stadium in St. Charles, Missouri. 
 
The Lions expected a strong push from the Red Wolves, but were up to the challenge.  Center Nick Taylor and flanker Cian Darling led the Lindenwood defense by stifling any attack that Arkansas State mustered. 
 
Props Liam Smith and Joseph Stewart dominated their opposite at scrum time and built a superb platform from which to attack. Number eight Tinashe Muchena took advantage and scored the first try of the match in the sixth minute.
 
The Lions continued great tactical play from the boot of flyhalf Evan Williams and strong carrying from Muchena, Darling, and second row Ross Brocket. The sustained pressure led to a try by Darling in the 17^th minute, converted by Williams for a 12-0 lead.  Lindenwood continued to play intelligently, but small mental lapses kept them from scoring for about twenty minutes.
 
After a great series of play, Williams found himself with the ball on the edge of the pitch and dove through two defenders to score in the 35^th minute.  Four minutes later, Darling again bullied through the defense for his second try and the Lions increased their advantage to 26-0 right before the break.
 
Lindenwood knew that the Red Wolves would try to reassert themselves in the second half, but again met the challenge.  The Lions defense continued to make tackles behind the gain line and big hits from hooker Stephen McLeish, second row Emmanuel Albert, and Smith ensured that the line was not broken.
 
After ten minutes, a beautiful series from the backs broke wing Cael Hodgson loose down the sideline.  He was brought down, but not before expertly offloading the ball to halfback Richard Felton who deftly dotted down in the corner in the 50^th minute.  Center Tyren Al-Jiboori, who had been superb in both attack and defense, stepped off his right foot and cut through three defenders to score a try 16 minutes later.  The conversion made it 38-0 Lindenwood. 
 
Felton, having moved to flyhalf, continued the intelligent style of play and dove along the sideline to score his second of the day in the 73^rd minute.
 
Reserve forwards Gabe Kettering, Kayleb O'Donoghue, and Cody Erhardt persisted on the defensive side and lifted the Lions efforts, but Arkansas State managed to work some field position and possession into a try on the sideline late in the game, but those were the only points the Red Wolves managed.
 
With the win, Lindenwood improved to 24-2 overall and 5-1 in the Mid-South.  The Lions host Life University in another conference match-up March 21.  The opening kickoff is set for 5 p.m. at Hunter Stadium in St. Charles, Missouri.