Luctonians 17 pts Stockport 8

FORMER Wales international Andy Williams scored his maiden try for play-off chasing Luctonians in this crucial victory at a wind-swept Mortimer Park this afternoon (Saturday).

Winger Will Hodnett and prop Anthony Marfell also crossed the whitewash for the Herefordshire club, who fought back from 8-0 down at the interval in National Two North.

The delighted home fans were banging on the advertising boards at the final whistle after Luctonians scored three tries in the final 20 minutes.

Luctonians’ 16th league victory has lifted them to fourth spot in the table and within two points of second-placed Westoe.

Luctonians will be delighted to have beaten rivals Stockport, whom they defeated in a National Three promotion play-off match a couple of years ago.

Passions were running high and eventually tempers spilled over in the dying minutes when there was a skirmish, involving 15 players, in the right-hand corner near the clubhouse.

Perhaps surprisingly, referee Tom Foley kept his cards in his pocket.

Former Worcester Warriors’ scrum-half Williams, who is head coach at Luctonians, admitted it had been a tough battle.

“It was never going to be easy against Stockport,” said Williams, after the final whistle.

“They play very direct and are a physical side. Our boys showed tremendous character and Stockport came out with nothing.

“Defensively, the lads have been superb the last two week s and we have to keep going forward. Hopefully, the arrow is going in the right direction.”

In truth, the final scoreline didn’t reflect just how tight the match had been.

The hosts had to dig deep to see off a spirited Stockport side, who dominated the first half and should have been more than eight points ahead at the break.

Luctonians chose to play into a strong wind in the first half and they had to repel a five-metre scrum and three drives towards their line in the opening three minutes.

Josh Longmore’s 30-metre penalty put Stockport 3-0 ahead on 13 minutes and, for the remainder of the half, only strong Luctonians tackling kept the hosts in contention.

With Luctonians pinned in their own 22 for long periods, Stockport’s pressure paid off with the first try of the afternoon in the 27th minute.

The hosts were penalised for off-side and winger Jamie Anthony’s quick tap-and-go caught the Luctonians’ defence napping and he darted over from 15 metres.

In a rare Luctonians first-half raid, Charlie Meredith surged downfield before the ball was knocked on but the hosts had to defend for their lives in the dying seconds of the opening period.

Luctonians also had to defend stoutly at the beginning of the second period after a poor re-start put them under pressure.

But the hosts finally burst into life in the 60th minute.

Skipper Paul Hulland and Marfell were stopped inches short of the try line and the ball was eventually passed out to the right where Hodnett crossed in the corner.

Hodnett missed the difficult conversion but Luctonians bagged their second try five minutes later.

The hosts won a five-metre scrum against the head and scrum-half Charlie Bennett popped up a pass to Williams, at number 10, who cut inside to score under the posts for his maiden Luctonians try.

Hodnett slotted the conversion to put Luctonians 12-8.

Stockport hit back and put Luctonians under intense pressure. A driving maul and a penalty, which was reversed in Stockport’s favour, caused Luctonians to defend in numbers.

Stockport almost scored their second try but the home defence was superb, holding the ball up over the line.

The pressure was relieved when Stockport’s Dave Marwick was penalised.

Tempers flared in the dying seconds and around 15 players were involved in a melee.

Luctonians wrapped up their triumph soon afterwards when a lineout was safely gathered by their forwards.

And, after a strong forward drive, Marfell burrowed over in the right-hand corner for the hosts’ third try.