11:00am Friday 19th March 2010
Bromsgrove 17 pts Luctonians 34.
LUCTONIANS' late-season surge continued when they dispatched National 3 Midlands' second-placed club Bromsgrove 34-17 at Finstall Park.
Paul Hulland was the chief destroyer for the Herefordshire side with a hat-trick of tries.
The Mortimer Park men were out the blocks quickly and were ahead through scrum-half Jamie Simpson's penalty after just two minutes.
The power of the Luctonians scrummage was the difference between the two teams and Hulland was able to pick up and cross for the first of his three tries.
The home side regrouped from their shaky start and winger Warren Oliver was able to race in at the corner.
Bromsgrove could not convert and soon found themselves at the mercy of the Luctonians forwards again, although Simpson was unable to convert a penalty chance after 24 minutes.
But Hulland was soon in again from a powerful forward scrummage which has become a trademark of the Mortimer Park men.
The visitors' next score had an air of predictability about it when following a series of penalty indiscretions close to the home line, the referee awarded a penalty try.
Simpson's conversion gave Luctonians a comfortable 22-5 advantage at the break.
In the early stages of the second period, negative play from both sides saw Luctonians prop Anthony Marfell and Bromsgrove number eight Nigel Burrows sent to the sin bin during a scrappy first 10 minutes.
With both sets of forwards down a man, Luctonians again asserted their power when Hulland crossed for his third try - again from an unstoppable scrum.
Simpson's conversion extended the lead to 29-5 but Bromsgrove refused to roll over and hauled themselves back into contention with a fine solo try and conversion from centre John Critchlow.
Bromsgrove then attacked from deep and Oliver was able to cross in the corner for his second score of the day.
But any hope of a late comeback was snuffed out when Luctonians outside half Alex James dummied his way over to leave the final score at 34-17.
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