Luctonians 24 pts Aston Old Edwardians 16

LUCTONIANS were given a close call by lower-graded opposition before clinching a place in the fifth round of the RFU Intermediate Cup.

Aston OE, who knocked out Hereford 24-16 in the third round, led at half-time and were trailing only 17-16 in the closing stages.

Edwardians then had a scrum under their posts and Luctonians pounced through scrum-half Will Price and flanker Mike Burdon to rob the opposing scrum-half and Burden went over for a decisive try, converted by Nick Smith.

Hard tackling featured throughout the game, while in the first five minutes five penalties were awarded, four against Edwardians.

From a drop out on Luctonians' 22 fly-half Anton Pilli kicked blind side and an Edwardians winger caught the ball to run in unopposed and the conversion was successful. Edwardians went further ahead with a penalty when Luctonians were caught off-side.

Luctonians then missed two penalties before Pilli scored a try in the 29th minute with a determined run, but the conversion failed.

Luctonians then scored a good try with interpassing from the half-way line for James Owen to score, but again the conversion was missed.

Edwardians landed another penalty to lead 13-10 at half-time.

Edwardians' number five was sin-binned for a second obstruction offence and Luctonians went into the lead from a three-man lineout when Pilli dummied his way over. Hill converted from wide out to make the score 17-13.

Edwardians then replied with another penalty to make the score 17-16. Both sides' defences held out with some determined tackling until Luctonians' late breakthrough.

Luctonians 55 pts Halesonians 5

Luctonians completed the second leg of a weekend double on Sunday when they won in the first round of the North Midland s Cup.

The Luctonians pack, with a nucleus of first-team players, ensured that the backs had a plentiful supply of the ball and there was a steady stream of tries.

Lock Charlie Turner scored the first in the eighth minute and flanker Mike Burdon quickly added a second before Halesonians registered their only try.

Further tries from Charlie Langford, Stuart Beaman and Andy Garrod, with two Nick Smith conversions, gave Luctonians a 29-5 half-time lead.

Four second-half tries from Andrew Morris, Rick Simcock, Andy Garrod and Will Crawforth and three conversions completed the scoring.