Luctonians beaten by in-form Hull Ionians in National Two North (From Hereford Times)

Luctonians beaten by in-form Hull Ionians in National Two North

2:30pm Wednesday 13th March 2013 in Sport

Luctonians 14 pts Hull Ionians 32 pts.

LUCTONIANS crashed to their sixth defeat in seven National Two North games as Ionians romped to their 10th straight win.

A penalty, try and conversion by man-of-the-match Chris Reakes gave Hull a good start.

But Luctonians, who had lost just three times at home previously, rallied strongly and Davidson touched down near the corner flag after a good period of pressure. Geraint Langdon added a fine conversion but then handling errors prevented further Luctonians scores despite a fair share of possession.

Having survived the pressure, Ionians hit back with a series of forward drives which ended with wing-forward Joe Sanders going over in the corner for an unconverted try.

At 15-7, Luctonians were well in the game at the turnaround and only a cruel bounce prevented a home score early in the second period after scrum-half Nathan Roy-Smith had charged down an Ionians clearance kick.

But the Yorkshiremen took advantage of a series of penalties conceded by Luctonians with prop Stephen Johnson going over for a try which Reakes converted.

Another Reakes penalty extended the lead and, with Davidson yellow-carded, Ionians scored a push-over try through Tom Rice. Reakes again converted.

Charlie Meredith went over in the corner for a consolation try, which Will Burton converted, but Hull ended as worthy and clearcut winners.

Five of Luctonians’ final six matches are against sides in the bottom half of the league so they will now be hoping to consolidate their mid-table position.