Hinckley 10 pts Luctonians 13

LUCTONIANS RFC strengthened their promotion bid and completed a Midlands 2 West double over top-table rivals Hinckley.

This win could have a significant bearing on their aspirations for a place in Midlands 1 as they now lie in fourth place, level on points with Bromsgrove with a game in hand, and two points behind Hinckley but with two games in hand.

With only the winners of the Midlands 2 West and Midlands 2 East leagues guaranteed promotion - the other place goes to winners of a play-off between the second-placed clubs - the battle for Midlands 1 status is really on.

Playing a tighter and more controlled game than of late, Luctonians spent most of the first half in Hinckley territory but found it difficult to break down a disciplined and effective defence.

Debutant fly-half Justin Miles marshalled his backs well with an astute mixture of intelligent kicking and movement of the ball across the line.

Centre Jon Goodwin kicked a penalty to give Luctonians the lead and left winger Lee Coton went close to a touch down. But Hinckley levelled when fly-half Nick Harbour slotted over a penalty.

With the wind at their backs after the interval, Hinckley immediately attacked and, after their left wing had almost gone over, their forwards won the resulting lineout to drive in for a try which Harbour converted.

Luctonians gradually stamped their authority on the game. Right wing Mike Powell fielded a deep Hinckley kick and evaded several tackles before linking up with his colleagues. Desperate home tackling stopped the move just short of the line but a switch to the right and a neat grubber kick saw lock Darren Brick win the race for the touch down.

Although missing the conversion to level the scores, Luctonians kept up the pressure and scrum-half Will Price set up the decisive second try. He fielded a relieving kick and made ground before linking up with Coton, who powerfully burst through several tackles for an excellent score.

Hinckley threw everything into attack during a frantic last 10 minutes and, despite the absence of the sin-binned Price, Lucton-ians defended resolutely and survived two kickable penalties .

l Luctonians 2nd went down 15-16 at Hinckley 2nd. Wayne Mills and Stuart Bemand scored tries and Charlie Langford kicked a conversion and a penalty.