LUCTONIANS opened their new National League 2 North campaign with a 34-7 loss to newly promoted Sandal.

The Mortimer Park side had no answer to their West Yorkshire hosts, who finish runner-up in National League 3 North last season.

The home side quickly opened the scoring after four minutes when Simon Frewin took a floated pass from Greg Wood to go over in the corner.

It was soon 10-0 when a quickly-taken tap penalty on the half-way line by Joe Bedford saw the scrum-half send James Briscoe. clear.

Wood kicked over the coversion before Alex Elder was driven over for another try.

Again, Wood made no mistake with the conversion, which took Sandal into the half-time break 17-0 to the good.

Luctonians captain Dan Smith did reduce the deficit at the start of the second half when he went over, with John Morris kicking over the conversion.

But that was as good as it got for the away side, with Wood increasing his side's lead to 13 points via a penalty.

James Stewart then grabbed a fourth try for his side soon afterwards, converted by Wood, with Mark Pease sealing the win near the end with a fine individual try.

Wood again successfully kicked over the extra points.

Lucs are home to Harrogate this Saturday, which is 3pm kick-off.

MATCH FACTS

Luctonians: Hodnett; Norris, Burton, Knight, Kelly, Langdon, Boxhall; Marfell, Garner, White, Cheasley, Smith, Monkley, Hackley, Talbot.

Replacements: Powell, Street, Smith, Morris, Jones.

Sandal: Ellar; Orr Martin, Pease, Frewin, Wood, Bedford, Elder; Heron, R Norbury, Stewart, Proctor, Cotterill, Briscoe, Whittingham.

Replacements: A Norbury, Pickersgill, Staples, Cartwright, Munnelly.

Tries: Luctonians – D Smith 44; Sandal – Frewin 4, Briscoe 10, Edler 14, Stewart 54, Pease 73; conversions: Luctonians – Morris 44; Sandal – Wood 14, 54, 73; penalties: Sandal – Wood 52.

Referee: Llyr ApGerain-Roberts.

Attendance: 350.