YET ANOTHER BONUS POINT WIN KEEPS LUCS AT THE TOP
Luctonians RFC v Newport Salop RUFC
Saturday 14th October 2023 – Mortimer Park
Match Reporter – Geoff Vickress
Luctonians didn’t disappoint their home support with a comfortable win against bottom side Newport. But credit must go to Newport who broke up Lucs’ running style and made the game fragmented despite the home side still managing to run in 7 tries.
Lucs were on the scoreboard within a couple of minutes of the start when Archie Benson broke through tackles from the halfway line to score under the posts; Louis Silver converting for a 7-0 lead.
The home side were further in front when their forwards drove captain Joe White over after 6 minutes, and when their prolific try scoring hooker, Ben Link, went over for his 10th try of the season (17-0) after 11mins, and it looked like the home side might run in a cricket score. However, Newport stuck to the task and subdued the home side by slowing the game to their pace, which infuriated the home support who were unusually quiet.
Newport lost hooker Charlie Robinson after 22minutes with a yellow card for a high tackle, and Lucs took full advantage when they ran in two scores through wing Charlie Grimes after 26 and 34 minutes, both with scrambled efforts in the corner to go in at half time 27-0; Louis Silver unable to convert as he kicked into a difficult swirling wind.
Half Time Score
Luctonians RFC 27 v 0 Newport Salop RUFC
The second half took a while to spark into life with numerous stoppages for injuries and penalties for knock-on infringements slowing any momentum. It wasn’t until the last 10 minutes that there were any further points on the scoreboard from either side.
Speedster Charlie Grimes scored yet another try for his hat-trick when he went over in the corner with another scrambled effort; again Silver was unable to convert (32-0).
Plucky Newport did then manage a score when veteran Hendry Vaka, who had a fine game for Newport, pinched some points when diving through after 78 minutes to avoid a scoreless defeat (32-5). Lucs’ No8 Caleb Montgomery then rounded off the points when he raced through a tired Newport defence and, with the clock running down, Tom Jones converted to complete a deserved win for the home side for a 39-5 result.
Full Time Score
Luctonians RFC 39 v 5 Newport Salop RUFC
Lucs head into the two-week break, 7 wins from 7 which keeps them top of the table, but knowing that they face tougher challenges before Christmas with Dings Crusaders away first up on their return to action on 5th November.
Star Man
Owien Harriott-Davis
Luctonians
On our Facebook page you can watch the Try Highlights vid HERE, and some of Andy Hargraves’ great pics HERE.
