Luctonians outplay title winners to save status

11:13am Thursday 19th April 2007

Luctonians 27 pts Luton 8 LUCTONIANS turned in their most committed 80 minutes of the season at a time when it mattered most to ensure that Midlands 1 rugby will continue at Mortimer Park next season.

Luton's performance might well have been diluted somewhat by the knowledge that the league title and promotion were already secure.

But in truth the visitors never really got a toe-hold in the game and their potent threequarter line - with 59 league tries to their credit - were neutralised by the Luctonians backs who simply denied them the time and space to play.

The Luctonians forwards, too, turned in a massive performance with the back row hugely influential.

Having already defeated eight of their 11 league opponents, it was difficult to believe that Luctonians were fighting to avoid relegation in this the last league fixture but a glance at the statistics would have told the tale.

They had lost no fewer than seven matches by four points or less and had they been able to turn just one of those narrow losses into a victory they would have climbed five places in the league table, so closely matched were the Midlands 1 sides this season.

Luctonians kicked off in perfect conditions and applied all the early pressure, dominating both territory and possession.

They opened their account in the 10th minute when, from lineout possession, wing Mark Panniers created space on the right and centre Bruce Ruthven was up in support to score his 16th league try of the season.

Fly-half Brett Prior kicked the conversion and minutes later added another three points when the Luton defence conceded a penalty after scrambling back to defend a thrust up the middle by flanker James Hadley.

Prior was involved again as he broke through and a recycled ball saw left-wing Andy Garrod round the defence to touch down under the posts for another Prior conversion and, with only 27 minutes played, Luctonians were 17 points up and coasting.

The back row had been prominent throughout and as half-time approached flanker Shaun Heliger made the initial yards for number eight Paul Hulland to crash over at the corner. The conversion was wide but Luctonians turned around with a healthy 22 points lead and very much in control.

With the indignity of a sizeable defeat facing them, Luton started the second half with more urgency and purpose and in the first minute pulled back three points with a Lee Anker penalty.

They followed this with a try from left-wing Matt Smith from a counter attack but that was the extent of their recovery as the home side reasserted their control.

Luctonians got the final score in the 73rd minute when Hulland charged down a clearing kick for his second try, but two other tries went begging as the backs increasingly found holes in the Luton defence but were unable to finish.

As it was, Luctonians had done more than enough for a convincing victory - and it was needed as relegation rivals Peterborough also won their last game.

Luctonians start their defence of the North Midlands Cup with a quarter-final tie against Camp Hill at Mortimer Park on Saturday, kick-off 3pm. The winners will be away to Solihull in the semi-finals.

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