LUCTONIANS completed a successful season in National 2 West with a hard fought 20-34 defeat at the hands of second placed Dings Crusaders

Luctonians battled their way to a bonus point to consolidate their highest finishing position in National Leagues by finishing fourth.

A rugged encounter resulted in referee James Dowds putting his hand in his pocket on five occasions to issue yellow cards in the second half.

Despite Dings looking to secure their runners-up finish it was the home side who opened the scoring after 13 minutes when Louis Silver intercepted a Dings pass, giving wing Charlie Grimes chance to go through and give the ball to James Wheeler to dot down (5-0).

Lucs conceded a penalty immediately from the re-start and the accurate boot of Thomas Jack Wilstead put his side back into the game (5-3).

Dings added to their tally straight afterwards when winger Solomon Taufa stole through to put them ahead; Wilstead converting for a 5-10 lead.

The Crusaders kept the scoreboard rolling with Wilstead slotted another penalty, before they rounded off the first half with a try from No8 Chris Rovery, again Wilstead converting to go in with at half-time leading 5-20.

The second half started with Dings No5 Thompson getting a yellow for foul play when he caught Lucs 10 Louis Silver late, but the home side were to rue the yellows to Ben Link and Brad Smith for technical infringements soon afterwards, both of which were of a dubious nature.

And Dings consolidated their lead when controversially awarded a penalty try from Smith’s error to the visitors led 5-27.

And when Dings’ energetic No9 Tom Knight dotted down after he picked off a break just after the hour, it looked like Lucs were going to be steamrollered, being behind 5-34.

However, roared on by their home support, Lucs responded as home favourite Aiden Cheshire was at the bottom of a Lucs driving maul after 65 minutes to give Lucs a 10-34 reverse.

Dings’ Matt Smith was then in the referee’s bad books when he was carded for foul play, with Harris Casson following him soon afterwards for a technical foul in their red zone..

Lucs’ leading try scorer for the season Ben Link touched down on 74 minutes for his 18th try of the season.

The home side were slowly creeping back into the game, giving Dings plenty to think about as the game headed towards its finale.

Josh Nott claimed the season’s final try when he took a quick tap penalty and was able to dart through to give Lucs their valuable bonus point try as the game ended 20-34.