Bromsgrove 39 pts Luctonians 15 pts.

LUCTONIANS’ director of rugby Alex Davidson is looking for an improvement when the north Herefordshire side host high-flying Darlington Mowden Park on Saturday.

The Kingsland club suffered a dismal afternoon at Finstall Park last Saturday, losing to their local rivals for the first time in 10 years.

“Darlington have been going well and their backs are lightning quick,” said Davidson.

“We need to tighten up our defence. We are mid-table this season and mid-table for a reason. “Our attacking play has gone from strength-to-strength but we have had so many injuries and we are leaking far too many points for my liking.

“We have been able to introduce a lot of young players this season and that bodes well for the future but I would have liked a few more wins.”

Despite the disappointment of last weekend’s defeat, Davidson was quick to pay tribute to Bromsgrove. “They were a different side to the one we played earlier in the season and much improved,” he said.

“They were dominant in the scrum and the line-out which has been one of our strengths this season.

“Robert Yeomans had an injury the previous week and was only able to start on the bench. He came on at half-time but, by then, Bromsgrove were settled.”

Three penalties from John Morris, with one response from James Curgenven, gave Luctonians a 9-3 advantage after 15 minutes.

But this was as good as it got for the visitors with a Phil Horton try, converted by Curgenven who also dropped a goal, while the yellow-carded Chris Jaques was off the field, putting Bromsgrove ahead.

Morris kicked another penalty to cut the margin to a single point at the interval.

But the second-half belonged to Bromsgrove who scored within two minutes of the re-start with a Jack Wardle try, converted again by Curgenven.

Morris kicked a further penalty but with Davidson off the field after picking up a yellow card, Toby Wilson’s unconverted try and a score by Ollie Bache, to which Curgenven added the extras, gave the home side a commanding lead.

Steve Smith’s try, again converted by Curgenven, rounded off a disappointing day for the Mortimer Park men.