Luctonians 40 v 15 Hornets

Luctonians RFC v Hornets RFC
Saturday 12th November 2022 – Mortimer Park
Match Reporter – Geoff Vickress

Luctonians extended their winning run of results with a comprehensive home victory over a spirited Hornets side on their first visit to Mortimer Park.

Early doors the game was marred with both sides conceding too many penalties, and it was from a Lucs infringement that Hornets took the lead from the tee, when Charlie Carter put them ahead after 24 minutes (0-3).

The home side replied almost immediately when Harry Whiteman showed great dexterity to offload in the tackle to Star Man Archie Benson to crash over; Louis Silver converting for a 7-3 lead.

And their determined approach had Hornets on the back foot minutes later when their well worked driving maul saw Seb Robinson driven over; Silver again converting for a 14-3 lead, which was the score at half time in what had been an error ridden first half. But not before Hornets’ Kieron Ward had been red carded, just before the 40-minute whistle, for serious foul play.

HALF TIME SCORE
Luctonians RFC 14 v 3 Hornets RFC

The second half however was a different game and the home side asserted themselves against the 14 men of Hornets playing at times some excellent team rugby. Wing James Wheeler collected a bouncing kick through from Tom Jones on 45minutes to extend their lead to 19-3.

Hornets were on the back foot and again when, in their red zone, prop Tom Sims was yellow carded to see them down to 13 players. Lucs kicked to the corner from the penalty awarded and, from the resulting driving maul, Hornets were pinged for persistent infringements and referee James Dowd marched under the posts to award a penalty try (26-3).

Busy Hornets replacement, scrum half Hayden Tuttiett, scampered through a gap in the home sides back line from close in after 66 minutes; Carter again adding the extras (26-10) to reduce arrears.

But Lucs went straight back into their opponents red zone and, from another driving line-out maul, Mat Hackley was driven over; Louis Silver again adding the extras to become Lucs’ all time leading scorer at National League level (33-10).

This was not before Lucs had seen both Josh Nott and Aiden Cheshire yellow carded for technical infringement. But it didn’t deter them, as they then proceeded to score an excellent team try through Charlie Grimes, with five minutes left on the clock his dinked chip and chase was converted by Silver for their final points tally of 40.

Their game opponents, Hornets, completed the scoring at the death when Connor Vickery strolled over, deep into added time, for a final score of 40-15.

Lucs were excellent value second half for the result, and will travel with confidence to Hinckley in two weeks’ time, looking to secure a top 6 position in National 2 West; Hornets looking to lick their wounds with a home game versus title challengers Dings Crusaders.

FULL TIME SCORE
Luctonians RFC 40 v 15 Hornets RFC

SCORERS

Luctonians

Tries:  Benson (26), Robinson (32), Wheeler (45), Penalty Try (56), Hackley (73), Grimes (75)
Convs: Silver (27,34,74,76)

Hornets

Tries: Tuttiett (66), Vickery (79)
Convs: Carter (67)
Pens: Carter (23)

STAR MAN

Archie Benson
Luctonians

TEAMS

Luctonians
Watkins; Grimes; Bengry; Parkes; Wheeler; Jones; Silver: Deignan; Link; White ©; Smith (T); Whiteman; Benson; Robinson; Cheshire
Replacements: Smith(B); Powell; Geraghty; Hackley; Nott

Hornets
Carter; Dempsey; Vickery; Bailey; Gliddon; Elswood; Dorrington: Sims; Ward©; Lloyd; Harris; Jackson; Luczka; Browne; Chenoweth
Replacements: Lane; Chase; Cheeseborough; Tuttiett; Francis

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