The Lindenwood Lions hit the road to Grand Rapids, Michigan for their second Midwest Conference matchup, fielding a well-balanced squad with six first-time travelers earning valuable minutes. Davenport struck early in unfamiliar conditions, but once the Lions settled, defensive pressure flipped momentum. Turnovers led to fast ball, clean carries, and a wave of tries that broke the match open. By full time, Lindenwood secured a commanding bonus-point win and their biggest scoreline over Davenport since 2018.
What Happened:
The match opened with a steady exchange of possession as both sides tested the defensive line. Davenport appeared slightly more settled early on, stretching the field and challenging Lindenwood's structure. The Lions answered with disruptive pressure, forcing turnovers and applying attacking heat, but handling errors kept the game tight.
Byron Forword finally cracked the scoreboard in the 12
th minute, calmly slotting a penalty for the Lions' first points of the afternoon. Davenport responded shortly after with a penalty of their own in the 14
th minute.
A gritty first half saw both sides trade possession. Davenport adjusted quicker, but Lindenwood's defense forced key turnovers.
Byron Forword, early penalty leveled by Davenport made it 3–3 at halftime.
The Lions emerged from the break a different side, more composed, more direct, and ready to strike.
- 41st minute: David Cathcart intercepted a hanging pass and sprinted 50 meters for the first try of the match.
- 46th minute: William Bentley powered over for his first 1st-team try of the season.
- 49th minute: Davenport answered with a converted try, briefly closing the margin.
But Lindenwood was just getting started. With momentum rolling, the breakthrough came in the 57
th minute as
Kieran Holland powered through contact, finishing a dominant carry to extend the Lions' lead. Minutes later,
Byron Forword took control of territory and tempo, using sharp tactical kicking and crisp distribution to put
Jack Johnson over in the 63
rd minute. The Lions forwards continued to apply bruising pressure, creating front-foot ball and space for the backline.
David Cathcart took full advantage, slicing through twice to complete his hat-trick in the 76
th minute. Davenport struggled to escape their own half as the Lions suffocated possession and field position. To cap the performance,
James Birley crossed for the final try of the day, sealing a comprehensive attacking display, Lindenwood Lions victorious win over Davenport 50-10.
Coach Quote:
Head coach Josh Macy. "Looking forward to helping this team use its unique talents to become their very own version of the Lindenwood Lions. We have a lot of room to grow but fall rugby is for Learning"
Player Quote:
Captain David Scanlon. "Very tough physical first half that required us to dig deep, our patience and execution in the second half was what really drove us over the edge though. Our fitness and skills have been key in these past 2 games".
What's Next:
Next week, the Lions travel west to Denver for a neutral-site showdown against Arizona. The last time these two programs met was in 2017, a gritty battle that stayed tight on the scoreboard from start to finish. The rematch is set for November 15 at Infinity Park, kickoff scheduled for 1:00 PM. Lindenwood will look to extend their momentum.
