Lucs 29 v 17 Boro Students

Luctonians RFC v Loughborough Students RFC
Saturday 18th February – Mortimer Park
Match Reporter – Geoff Vickress

An absorbing game at Mortimer Park brought about a home win for Luctonians against an attack minded Students side who had most of the possession throughout.

Despite spending long periods in the home side’s half and winning numerous penalties, they could not penetrate what is the stingiest defence in the league. Lucs’ defence was immense throughout and their scrum dominance proved to be too much for the students, who buckled eventually under the home side’s energy and reluctance to give in to a very athletic unit.

Alex Wainwright opened the scoring for the students after 16mins, when he calmly slotted a penalty after they had been in control for substantial period of play. But they crumpled under pressure when Lucs, on their first foray into their 22, drove the students scrum off their own defensive ball allowing tight head Joe White to dot down the loose ball for the home side to lead 5-3 after 20 minutes.

Students deservedly replied on the half hour with George Worthington running through to put them ahead; Wainwright converting to lead 5-10. This after the home side’s captain Joe White had been yellow carded for a technical infringement.

But the teams went in at half time level, after James Wheeler took a pass off the back of another Lucs driving maul, to step inside to dot down for a 10-10 level scoreline at the break.

HALF TIME SCORE
Luctonians RFC 10 v 10 Loughborough Students RFC

The home side came out all guns blazing after the break when Josh Watkins, with his usual grace, skipped through to touch down after 44 mins (15-10) and, despite plenty of possession, Students allowed the home side to increase their lead when Owien Harriott-Davis, who had a fine game, powered his way over crashing through tackles to add to their lead; Louis Silver converting for a 22-10 lead.

Students then had a period of dominance, Lucs conceding numerous penalties in their defensive zone, and saw Aiden Cheshire, for the home side, receiving a yellow for foul play, with Students awarded a penalty try for their endeavours, to bring them back within five points at 22-17 with ten minutes to play.

A tense finish was expected, as the game could have gone either way, and Lucs stood their ground not allowing Students any say in the final 10 minutes. The home support was bouncing when replacement scrum half Josh Nott sealed the win at the death, when he sniped through from the back of a ruck; Louis Silver converting to give the home side a hard earned bonus point victory 27-17.

Lucs’ victory sees them sneak into the top six in Nat 2 West, and Students remain mid table for all their endeavours. Lucs travelling next week to local rivals Stourbridge looking to consolidate their position in the top end of the table.

FULL TIME SCORE
Luctonians RFC 29 v 17 Loughborough Students RFC

SCORERS

Luctonians

Trys: White (20), Wheeler (34), Watkins (44), Harriott-Davis (49), Nott (79)

Convs: Silver (50, 80)

Loughborough Students

Try: Worthington (31), Penalty (68)

Conv: Wainwright (32)

Pen: Wainwright (16)

STAR MAN

Archie Benson
Luctonians

TEAMS

Luctonians
Watkins, Grimes, Aikman, Bengry, Wheeler, Jones, Silver: Deignan, Small, White ©, Whiteman, Harriott-Davis; Smith, Benson, Cheshire
Replacements: Roberts, Link, Pearson. Hayler, Nott

Loughborough Students
Daniel, Worthington, Hawkins, Pyle, Doyle, Wainwright, Mason; Patten, Cameron, Westmacott, Jennings, Pedlar, Dick, Bloomer, Agbongbon
Replacements: Langdon, Miell, Crane, Gilmour, Tusler

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