Luctonians 45 pts Hull Ionians 10 pts

DIRECTOR of rugby Alex Davidson believes his young guns will be ready to fire when they’re called upon to continue Luctonians’ promotion charge.

Seventeen-year-old winger Alex Rumsey, centre Will Burton and scrumhalf Charlie Bennett are just three of the youngsters making an impression at Mortimer Park.

Bennett started the season in the thirds and Rumsey made his first-team debut last Saturday after coming on as a 55th-minute replacement for John Morris.

By the time of Rumsey’s bow, third-placed Luctonians had romped into a 33-10 lead after being pegged back to 19-10 at the interval by National League 2 North’s bottomclub Hull Ionians.

Davidson said: “A lot of the younger boys have got there on merit and they didn’t look out of place on the field. We used 40-odd players last year and we know that injuries will come so it’s nice to blood the younger players and it takes care of business after Christmas when we do pick up the knocks.”

“Alex Rumsey is an academy boy at Worcester and he’s been doing the weights for long enough so even though he’s 17, physically, he’s up there and ready. He’s got natural pace and he’s one for the future.”

Luctonians are now just one point shy of secondplaced Caldy after their seven-try triumph.

But, at the interval, there were some worried vicepresidents in the 400-strong crowd after Hull belied their lowly position.

Hull shocked Luctonians with the opening try in the second minute and put the hosts’ defence under intense pressure in a 10- minute spell leading up to the interval.

Head coach Andy Williams said: “I told the players to get the basics right and it will come. It was the most direct we have been all year. The balance is coming and, when we do the simple things well, things happen.”

Two quick-fire tries early in the second half knocked the stuffing out of Hull.

The only disappointments for Luctonians were a hamstring injury to prop Anthony Marfell and a yellow card for Davidson as the hosts secured their eighth league win. Hull took the lead when Gary Stephenson ran on to a kick ahead to touch down.

Glenn Boyd added the conversion.

Luctonians responded and led 12-7 after just nine minutes with tries from the outstanding Nathan Roy- Smith and hooker Dale Garner, who collected a long-pass from Alex James.

Morris slotted a conversion and Boyd kicked a penalty for the visitors before Morris scored Luctonians’ third try, in the 28th minute, after an excellent off-load from Burton. Morris added the extras. Boyd missed a penalty for Hull and only fine tackling from Luctonians kept out Hull who were awarded two penalties close to the hosts’ line in the closing minutes of the first half.

Will Hodnett ran through for Luctonians’ fourth try in the 45th minute after a superb break from Will Richards and skipper Paul Hulland then got over the whitewash. Morris converted both tries to put the hosts 33-10 in front.

Davidson crashed over for Luctonians’ sixth try before he was yellow-carded for questioning a decision by the referee.

Charlie Meredith burst through for Lucs’ seventh try and Hodnett converted.