GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Davenport men's rugby team hosted Mid-South Conference rival Lindenwood in the regular season finale for both teams. Davenport jumped out to a 17-0 lead as they went on to beat Lindenwood, 26-7, as Jean Pierre Eloff scored 11 points for the Panthers. Davenport was able to grab their first Mid-South Conference win in program history. DU will now await to see who their opponent will be in the opening round of the D1A Rugby playoffs.
 
The Panthers came out strong to start the game as Jean Pierre Eloff tried to get the Panthers on the board early with a penalty kick opportunity, but he was unable to convert. However, Davenport continued to put pressure on the Lindenwood defense as Gabe Sochanek got the Panthers on the board to open the scoring in the game as DU took a 5-0 lead with 23:50 left to play in the first half.
 
Davenport than came right back and scored two tries less than three minutes apart as Reece Czarnecki and Anthony Welmers were able to give DU a 17-0 lead after Eloff was able to hit one of the conversion attempts. Lindenwood closed out the half scoring a try in the final minute of play and followed it up with a successful conversion as the Panthers took a 17-7 lead into the break.
 
To start the second half, Eloff was able to give the Panthers a 23-7 lead with 25:45 left in the game after he was successful on a pair of penalty kicks. After Eloff missed a penalty opportunity 16 minutes left in the game, he was able to knock home his second penalty kick off of the game with 9:45 left in the game as DU led 26-7. The Davenport defense was able to hold the Lions for the remainder of the game as they were able to grab their first Mid-South Conference win in program history.
 
Davenport has now concluded their regular season schedule and will now head into the D1A Rugby playoffs, which begin next weekend on April 18th.
 
Men's Rugby Contact: Paul Anderson | 616-889-4062 | panderson30@email.davenport.edu
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