Life University held off Lindenwood 22-18 Saturday in a tight, physical Mid-South matchup shown live on FloRugby.

Watch Replay

The game was not a big-scoring, wide-open affair and much of that had to do with the physicality of both defenses. Promising attacks were repeatedly foiled by tackles that forced knock-ons or loose passes. 

For Lindenwood, that might have been especially galling as a series of late scoring opportunities were stopped by poor ball security.

Lindenwood put Life under considerable pressure early on and got a well-taken penalty goal from flyhalf Nick Feakes to take a 3-0 lead. Life responded immediately, pressuring Lindenwood from the restart, and eventually earning a penalty from a scrum in front of the posts. Flyhalf Duncan van Schalkwyk put the kick over to tie the game 3-3.

Feakes nudged Lindenwood ahead almost right after as Life was penalized in the ruck. 

Life came close to the line but spilled the ball in the tackle. Still, though, the Running Eagles managed camp out in the Lindenwood 22, for about five minutes before van Schalkwyk put over another kick.

That made it 6-6, and the game of penalties continues. Lindenwood got another one, perhaps a foot or two out of range for Feakes, and Lions opted to take the lineout. But a thumping tackle from open side flanker Justin Johnson jarred the ball loose and Life survived.

Life kept the ball for a long sequence after that, and in the end it was a reversal of roles - the backs working well in the breakdown and the forwards making some nice open-field plays - that set up the lone try of the game.

Finally, a nifty give-and-go between fullback Mitch Wilson and wing Harley Wheeler put Wilson in under the posts. Van Schalkwyk hit the conversion and Life took a 13-6 lead about midway through the first half.

But pressure from Lindenwood would yield another kickable penalty, this time for not releasing the tackled player, and this time the Running Eagles got a warning for their indiscipline.

Feakes slotted the fairly straightforward kick and it was 13-9. 

With. Both teams defending well, each resorted to use the kick to gain ground. Still the game became a physical battle in the middle of the field. Life was penalized again, and this time lock Mike Islava was invited to spend ten minutes on the sidelines.

But the Lions were unable to capitalize, once again spilling the ball at a crucial moment.

Despite dominating possession in the latter part of the first half, Lindenwood could not score, and the half ended with Life still ahead 13-9.

Second Half

Lindenwood made two early breaks that looked to have try-scoring potential, but the Life cover defense was quick to snuff them out. But after the second, a penalty against Life in the scrum set up a kick from Feakes, who made no mistake. 

So now it was 13-12, and another long break from the Lindenwood backs set up yet another penalty. Feakes put this one over, as well, making it a 15-13 Lions lead. 

The penalty was especially costly to Life, as it produced another yellow card for Islava, this time for a tackle around the neck, and the second yellow meant Islava was gone for the day with a red card.

So the drama was ramped up a little more, the teams surged back and forth before Life got a penalty right in front of the Lindenwood posts and van Schalkwyk put it over to regain the lead for the Running Eagles at 16-15.

Back came Lindenwood, once again bashing at the Life interior defense. Life was offside, and Feakes kicked his 6th penalty of the day for a lead of 18-16. But Lindenwood was guilty of diving over the ball right after the restart, and van Schalkwyk was able to get those three back almost immediately. 

Then a long, weaving run from sub back George Phelan put Life back under the Lindenwood posts, 

Lindenwood spent agonizing minutes trying to hold Life out, and did. Eventually, a three-man break got them free to the Life 22, where, were it not for Wheeler’s tackle, the Lions would have been in under the posts. Wheeler forced a knock-on, and Life was able not only to get out of trouble, but work its way down the field for another penalty and three more points from van Schalkwyk.

Those three points were crucial, because Lindenwood now had to score a try to win. They had precious little time to do so, however. Life controlled the restart and kicked to touch to end the game.

All in all, it wasn’t pretty in terms of open attacking rugby, but if you like teeth-rattling tackles, it had plenty of those. Life will have to look very carefully at its discipline, as the Running Eagles can ill afford to see players the caliber of Islava get suspensions.

Lindenwood, for its part, was right there, and can rightfully argue it can compete with just about anyone.

Life 22

Tries: Wilson

Convs: Van Schalkwyk

Pens: Van Schalkwyk 4

Lindenwood 18

Pens: Feakes 6

Also in the Mid-South, Arkansas State held off Life 14-10 to improve to 2-2. Lindenwood falls to 2-1 while Life is now 3-0.