LUCTONIANS captain Alex Smith said it was a relief to secure National League 2 North status for another year.

 

The Kingsland side may have lost 40-28 to South Leicester, but a losing bonus point meant that they were safe.

 

"We were pretty ecstatic and it was a relief that we were mathematically safe," said Smith.

 

"Even though some teams have won more games than us, we have picked up bonus points due to our expansive style of play and have stayed in other games to get losing bonus points.

 

"We have been competitive in most games and I know a lot of teams will say that we're not one of the three worse sides in the league."

 

Luctonians are the most southerly team in the division and Smith admits the extra travelling can take its toll.

 

"The league schedule is brutal," he said.

 

"You're asking guys to travel four or five hours one way every other week, which is a big ask.

 

"I think we only have three rest weeks, as well as Christmas, so that's eight or nine months in a season.

 

"You're not going to find too many guys who will do that."

 

Injuries to key players have also cost Luctonians this season.

 

"Will Burton and Mike Cheasley were out for most of the season and we've had injuries to Stefan Psota, Joe Doyle, my brother Dan and Henry Monkley," added Smith.

 

"So to have all of those injuries stack up has hurt us.

 

"But we have shown proper grit and we got there in the end."

 

South Leicester opened up a 6-3 lead before Tom Jones crashed over for a Luctonians try,

 

Back came South Leicester who scored in the corner, with the try converted.

 

Another penalty was slotted over for the home side before Louis Silver did likewise for Lucs before half-time.

 

South Leicester extended their lead to 23-11 after the break, but an Ollie Allsopp try, converted by Silver, reduced the deficit to five points.

 

Both sides exchanged further tries, Will Hodnett claiming the Lucs one, before South Leicester converted a penalty.

 

The home team grabbed another try, but Lucs claimed the losing bonus point when Dan Smith, playing in his 150th National League game, crashed over.