Luctonians left in danger by defeat

11:14am Thursday 5th April 2007

Walsall 24 pts Luctonians 22 AN HORRENDOUS first-half performance cost Luctonians dearly at Walsall, who were already doomed for relegation from Midlands 1.

The North Herefordshire visitors needed to extend their seven-match unbeaten in their own bid to avoid the drop but found themselves 24 points down at half-time and were unable to quite make up the deficit.

Now Luctonians face the prospect of having to beat champions-elect Luton in the final league at Mortimer Park on April 14 - or rely on Longton beating Peterborough away - to be sure of Midlands 1 survival.

Playing against a strong breeze in the first half, the visitors went behind within two minutes when centre Danny Thompson burst through a non-existent defence to score an unconverted try.

After five minutes the home side failed to extend their lead when Matt Wood missed a kickable penalty.

For a short period Luctonians gained the upper hand but missed a golden opportunity to score a try wide out when the final pass was fumbled.

Walsall regained the initiative and were playing with much more determination and vigour than their opponents.

In the space of 10 minutes Luctonians conceded four penalties which were all slotted over by Wood from various angles.

Luctonians were also indebted to full-back Charlie Meredith for making two try-saving tackles. On the stroke of half-time winger Adam Coniff took advantage of more poor defending by Luctonians to go over for a try again converted by Wood to stretched the Walsall lead to 24-0.

Luctonians started the second half with much more determination and after 10 minutes a Chris James penalty opened their account.

The home side were now under the cosh and, after they had conceded several penalties near their own try-line, centre Bruce Ruthven burst through the middle to score halfway out. The conversion attempt drifted wide.

By now Luctonians had begun to believe in themselves and when a Walsall clearance kick was charged down, allowing Ruthven to go over for a try which James converted, an unlikely win looked a possibility.

With seven minutes left winger Alex Smith broke from defence and fed Ruthven on his inside for him to race over from the halfway line to complete his hat-trick of tries, while James' conversion reduced the arrears to two points.

But from the restart Walsall gained possession and Luctonians were denied the chance to clinch a victory which they hardly deserved.

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