LUCTONIANS director of rugby Alex Davidson has labelled this Saturday's home encounter against Huddersfield as a "must win game" after losing their opening three games of the season.

Lucs are back at Mortimer Park and face a Huddersfield side who have lost two of their three games.

"It's a must win game looking at the results," said Davidson.

"We are still only playing at 50 to 60 per cent but bringing teams here is a big advantage.

"It is important that we win because that proves we are in and around the mix."

Lucs matched a strong Leicester Lions team during the first half and levelled the match at 12-12 shortly after the break.

But a spate of yellow cards cost Luctonians the game, which culminated with Brad Talbot being sent off for an alleged punch.

"Our scrum was much improved and we got it back to 12-12, but then had a number of yellow cards, some tenuous, some deserved," added Davidson.

"Dan Smith was yellow carded for a high tackle on the half-way line, which in my eyes was barely worth a penalty, then we had another when Mike Cheasley was penalised for a tackle.

"We played the rest of the half with 13 or 14 players and with 10 minutes to go, Brad Talbot was red carded.

"He had just completed a tackle and I didn't see the incident.

"But the referee said he struck the player with a forearm.

"The first yellow card really threw us, but it was nice that our pack was not as broken as I thought it would be from last week's performance."

Leicester opened up a 12-0 lead thanks to the boot of Will Bishop before a Mike Jones try gave Lucs hope.

The away side took their momentum into the second half and grabbed another try from Talbot following a driving maul.

This time, Geraint Langdon successfully converted to bring the scores level, before ill-discipline cost Luctonians.

Leicester took full advantage, adding a penalty through Bishop before their powerful front three saw a penalty try awarded.

Bishop easily converted it to put the Lions seven points clear.

A stray kick from Tom Jones then led to the home side scoring another try through Mark Byron, with Bishop again converting.

Talbot was then sent off for foul play before Will Roach went over for Leicester to complete a 34-12 win.

MATCH FACTS

Luctonians: Doyle; Hodnett, Burton, Langdon, Norris, T Jones, Boxhall; M Jones, Tarner, R Jones, Cheasley, Freydell, Talbot, Hackley, Smith.

Replacements: Powell, White, Dines, Monkley, Kelly.

Leicester Lions: N Taylor; Nixon, Byron, Williams, Benjamin, Bishop, Shaw; Stokes, O Taylor, Murray, Roach, Dallivalle, Young, Murdoch, Collingham.

Replacements: Dean, Nairn, Povoas, Veebel, Hargreaves.

Referee: Benjamin Davis.

Yellow cards: Luctonians – Smith, Cheasley.

Red card: Luctonians – Talbot.

Attendance: 89.