Lindenwood traveled to Knoxville, Tennessee this past weekend with both the 1st and 2nd XV squads, travelling 5 home grown players, and delivered a complete program performance. The 1st XV opened the day against the University of Mary Washington in a physical contest filled with momentum swings. The Lions struck first and managed the game effectively, closing out a 22–13 victory. The 2nd XV followed with an emphatic performance against Tennessee Rugby Club. A clinical opening 20 minutes set the tone, and Lindenwood maintained control throughout, earning a commanding 59–0 win. Two teams, two victories an outstanding day for the Lions program.
What Happened:
Lindenwood wasted no time setting the tone. A perfectly weighted kickoff from
Byron Forword, combined with relentless pressure from
David Cathcart on the chase, handed the Lions their first attacking platform deep inside the Mary Washington half. From there, Lindenwood played with tempo, moving the ball quickly and looking to stretch and disorganize the defense. Mary Washington's early ill-discipline proved costly, and Forword calmly slotted a penalty to open the scoring, putting the Lions ahead 3–0. Mary Washington responded with attacking intent of their own, earning a penalty in the 10th minute to level the match. The Lions quickly reclaimed territorial control, spending extended periods in the opposition half. In the 16th minute, Mary Washington was reduced to 14 men, and Lindenwood capitalized immediately. A sharp tap penalty and slick hands across the line created space for
James Birley to finish, giving the Lions an 8–3 advantage.
As the halftime whistle blew, Lindenwood walked into the break with an 8–3 lead, but the scoreline only told part of the story. The opening forty minutes had been a physical, momentum-driven battle. After striking early and capitalizing on Mary Washington's ill-discipline, the Lions controlled large stretches of territory, spending most of the play inside the opposition half. Their defensive line speed and kick-chase pressure consistently forced Mary Washington to work out of their own end. However, execution remained a focal point. While Lindenwood created multiple attacking entries, a few handling errors and breakdown inefficiencies prevented them from fully converting pressure into points.
The second half opened with immediate tension. Receiving the kickoff, Lindenwood were forced onto the back foot after an early knock-on deep in their own half, inviting scrum pressure from Mary Washington. The Lions absorbed several minutes of defensive work before a crucial penalty allowed them to clear their lines and reset. From there, momentum shifted. Lindenwood began to move the ball confidently from edge to edge, stretching the defense and finding rhythm. In the 49th minute
, Jeremy Zwick crossed the line to spark the half, with
Byron Forword adding the conversion. Just nine minutes later,
Kieran Holland powered over, and Forword again slotted the extras to extend the lead to 22–3.
Mary Washington refused to fade, adding a penalty before mounting one final push. Their persistence earned a converted try in the 78th minute, but the Lions managed the closing stages well, sealing a 22–13 victory.
In other action:
In the second fixture of the day, Lindenwood's 2nd XV wasted no time making their presence felt. From kickoff, the Lions operated at full throttle. Tennessee Rugby Club proved resilient, bringing physicality and determination on both sides of the ball. Their defensive effort and attacking intent ensured the contest was competitive early. However, Lindenwood's discipline and precision at set piece provided a consistent platform. Clean lineouts and dominant scrums allowed the Lions to launch wave after wave of structured attack. When called upon defensively, the side responded with grit and composure, matching Tennessee's intensity. Debutant
Luke White announced himself in style, crossing for two early tries.
Owen Peel,
Shaun Ndowa,
Caleb Murphy,
Ike Wrigley,
Jack Johnson, Marcus Robinson, and
Ed Critchley all added their names to the scoresheet in a complete team performance. The final whistle confirmed a commanding 59–0 victory —an emphatic statement from the Lions' depth and development pipeline.
Coach Quote:
"It was a great day for our program to travel with two quality sides and come away with strong performances. The 1st XV wasn't at its best, but we're clear on the areas we need to sharpen. What stood out was the depth across the squad and seeing the players' hard work translate onto the field. Giving meaningful minutes to our freshmen and Tennessee homegrown players was important for our development. We'll keep building on this momentum."
Player Quote:
"Hats off to Mary Washington — they came down to Tennessee and really stuck it to us for the full 80 minutes. It was a very physical contest and exactly the kind of test we needed after a tough two weeks of training. It helped shake off some of the cobwebs and show us where we can improve. We've got another strong week of preparation ahead for Life, which is a massive game for us, and we'll be ready to step up to the challenge."
What's next:
Lindenwood now shifts focus to a major road test against long-time rivals Life University. The Lions travel to Marietta, Georgia for a 1:00 p.m. kickoff at Lupo Family Field, where another chapter in this competitive rivalry will unfold. With momentum building, Lindenwood will look to carry their discipline, physicality, and execution into what promises to be a high-intensity matchup.
Score Summary:
4' Lindenwood Penalty Kick 3-0
10' Mary Washington Penalty Kick 3-3
16' Lindenwood Try James Birley 8-3
49' Lindenwood Try Jeremy Zwick 13-3
50' Lindenwood Conversion Byron Forword 15-3
58' Lindenwood Try Kieran Holland 20-3
59' Lindenwood Conversion Byron Forword 22-3
60' Mary Washington Penalty Kick 22-6
78' Mary Washington Try 22-11
79' Mary Washington Conversion 22-13
