LUCTONIANS almost threw away their play-off hopes after surrendering a 26-point half-time lead to narrowly beat Bournville 29-27.

Playing on a fast artificial surface the Lucs used their speed to devastating effect in the first half with Will Burton racing away to score the opening try.

Isaac Fanueli surged over a second before a brace by Connor Turner and a single for Connor Deignan looked to have the game won at 29-3.

However, the hosts responded with three tries and a penalty try to bring them back to 29-27.

At the death Bournville had the chance to take a dramatic victory when they made a line break only for a loose pass to hand Lucs a narrow win.

Head Coach Ryan Watkins admits that he made some changes too early in the tie thinking it was already won.

He said: "It was close and we probably got really lucky as they had a chance to win but threw it away.

"In the first half we were brilliant and played some really intelligent rugby. We made some changes as I thought we had the game won.

"That was probably a mistake but we did enough. They probably should have taken that chance at the end as it was quite simple, so that was a bit of a let off at the end.

"We did a lot of good stuff but we made the changes too early and started sitting off and keeping hold of the ball.

"We lacked that energy we had in the first half."

Watkins' side have no fixture this weekend before their last six games which includes ties against fellow play-off chasers Bridgnorth (home on March 2) and Broadstreet (away on March 6).

"We will get the boys in training and focus on the Bridgnorth as after the results around us we are back in with a chance of a play-off spot," added Watkins.

"There are three or four teams in there with a chance and we are in a decent position. We have got to play a lot of the bottom teams so it is important that we get our heads down and get the points.

"Broadstreet are the current team in form in the league and have won their last 11 or 12 while Bridgnorth are a bit up and down of late.

"Bridgnorth have got good enough players to beat anybody but there are a few cracks appearing that we can exploit."