SMALL mistakes are costing Luctonians vital points as they fell to a fifth defeat in six games, said head coach Ryan Watkins.

However, a spirited second half fightback saw the Lucs come back from 33-7 down to clinch two bonus points against Loughborough University, eventually only losing by three points.

"We've got to look at ourselves and the things we aren't quite nailing," said Watkins.

"It's pretty fixable but we've got a habit of making wrong calls or mistakes.

"From a scoring point of view we are pretty good but our exits aren't quite where we need them to be.

"There is no lack of effort or heart it's just little mistakes which gives teams easy chances.

"Every knock-on they scored from it as they are good sides."

The Students started quickly capitalised on the home side's mistakes with William Kaye scoring a brace within 10 minutes before Joseph Browning adding a third and Cameron Boon adding two more as the visitors raced into a 33-0 lead.

In reply Guy Kirkby finished his effort from a driving maul which was converted by Josh Phipps to pull seven points back by the break.

The second half saw the Lucs' scrum and pack dominate resulting in Frank Kelly, Callum Young and Josh Watkins crossing the whitewash, converted by Louis Silver.

With the last play of the game Cameron Tawfik’s opportunistic try earned his side a second bonus point.

"Even from the last try we carried on chasing the ball and their player spooned his kick to touch which led to us scoring in the corner for a losing bonus point," added Watkins

"That was in the last throw of the game when they were about to kick the ball off the pitch and we got our reward for never giving up."

This weekend the Lucs travel to sixth place Sheffield Tigers.

"They are not that far in front of us in the table and I expect a similar game," added Watkins.

"We need to tighten up in some areas and make sure the scoreboard isn't far out of our reach. We have played a lot of the better teams in the league and we have a block of games not far away that are winnable."