Forwards give Luctonians double

LUCTONIANS completed a home double over Bromsgrove by following up their Powergen Trophy win over the Worcestershire visitors with a much narrower Midlands 1 victory.

The North Herefordshire club had won by 14 points in September but Saturday's success was well earned by their pack who had much the better of the visiting eight, scoring all three Luctonians tries in the process.

Bromsgrove opened their account in the 15th minute when from scrum possession full-back Richard Stockholm hit the line and had the pace to round the cover and score half-way out.

A second Bromsgrove try quickly followed as centre James Hall shrugged off some ineffectual tackling and touched down under the posts, making the extra two points a formality.

Luctonians were staring at a 12-point deficit when at the corresponding stage in the cup encounter they had been 17 points up and it was clear that Bromsgrove had come to Mortimer Park to avenge that defeat and record their first league victory in the process.

Luctonians hit back when, following a burst up the middle by prop Kiki Stowers, wing Andy Garrod was stopped short of the line. Recycled ball saw flanker Nick Hamer breach the defence for hooker Stuart Bemand to take the scoring pass and full-back Jeremy Wheadon add the conversion.

Before the interval, the Luctonians' backs stepped up the pace with a succession of crisp attacks but the Bromsgrove defence held and the home team turned around trailing by five points.

But they drew level three minutes into the second half when at a scrummage the home forwards destroyed the Bromsgrove pack, driving over the line for Ben McGowan to get the touch-down. Wheadon's conversion attempt drifted to the left but Luctonians were very much back in the match.

As play entered the final quarter they made several substitutions, none more effective than the introduction of Richard Morgan into the back row where his direct running invariably took them over the gain-line.

The Luctonians forward again showed their authority in the 21st minute when from line out position on the Bromsgrove 22 they trundled in for a long range catch and drive with lock Troy Looms claiming the touch-down. Wheadon added the extra points and the home team were in control.

But the Bromsgrove backs fought back as the final whistle approached when wing Frank Hale counter-attacked from a clearing kick and chipped through to beat the cover to the corner for a try.

The touch-line conversion fell short and for the remaining minutes Luctonians played out the game in the Bromsgrove 22 to secure the victory.