LUCTONIANS fans were treated to a try-fest at Mortimer Park as 13 tries were scored and the hosts dotting down nine times during a 59-28 victory over Exeter University.

The home side started the scoring in the first minute when the visitors “knocked-on” from the kick-off, and from quick scrum ball moved the ball wide for home wing Charlie Grimes to dot down.

Luctonians’ early 5-0 lead was increased further when centre Rob Aikman crashed through on seven minutes, again following some swift passing by the home side.

Scrum half John Nott was next to score swivelling over from a driving maul with Tom Jones converting as the home side led 17-0 with only 12 minutes on the clock.

However, the Students were soon back in the game when their Chris Ballard got a huge break of luck with a loose ball and darted through the home defence only a minute later, Harvey Graham converting to reduce the deficit (17-7).

However, the powerful game of the hosts was put to good use again almost immediately and from another driving maul hooker Jack Small was driven over to secure the try-bonus point after only 17 minutes, Tom Jones converting for the home side to lead 24-7. 

Exeter were spurred into life and went in half-time only three points behind. A penalty try was awarded to the University side on 23 minutes, wing Charlie Grimes yellow carded for a high tackle in the red zone, and when the dangerous Ed Volley ran through to touch down, with Graham converting just before the break to make it 24-21.

 Luctonians came out in the second half and completely steam-rolled the University side, scoring five converted tries (all kicked by the accurate Jones) in a display of total set-piece dominance.

From a driving maul hooker Small trundled over for his second try almost from the restart for 31-21 and the tone was set.

When Small’s replacement, Ben Link, was similarly driven over at the back of a maul ten minutes later, the home side lead 38-21.

Lucs were now controlling the game and through their set piece play they put the game to bed when home captain Joe White dotted down on the hour again from a maul for 45-21.

Exeter University’s Conor Manzi raced through to take a neat pass from prop Elliot Young on a break for a consolation score and a four-try bonus point.

However, Lucs powerhouse and man of the match Owien Harriott-Davis, who was giving the opposition serious issues with his pace and strength, helped create, via another one of his destructive charges, the penalty that led to Link getting the opportunity to again touch down for a half century of points from another maul.

The hosts weren’t finished and moved from maul to scrum with Sam Hayler scoring his first try for the club to round off a spectacular afternoon of entertaining rugby.