Lucs 20 v 34 Dings
Luctonians RFC v Dings Crusaders RFC
Saturday 22nd April – Mortimer Park
Match Reporter – Geoff Vickress
Dings Crusaders clinched runners up spot in Nat 2 West with a hard earnt win over a defiant Luctonians, who themselves consolidated their highest finishing position in National Leagues by finishing 4th. In what was often a rugged encounter, with referee Mr James Dowds putting his hand in his pocket on 5 occasions to issue yellow cards in the second half, Dings on the balance of play were worthy winners.
The home side 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; the extras being missed. (0-5)
Dings responded when Lucs discipline let them down almost immediately from re-start when they conceded a penalty, of which there were plenty by both sides. The accurate boot of Thomas Jack Wilstead got them back into the game (3-5). And Dings added to their tally straight afterwards, when wing Solomon Taufa stole through a couple of minutes later to put them ahead; Wilstead converting for a 5-10 lead.
They kept the scoreboard rolling when Wilstead slotted another penalty, before they rounded off the first half with a try from their excellent No8 Chris Rovery, again Wilstead converting to go in with a fifteen-point lead 5-20.
HALF TIME SCORE
Luctonians RFC 5 v 20 Dings Crusaders RFC
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 awarded a penalty try from Smiths error, with both sides, and the crowd still pondering over why, as there was no clear-cut reason as to why it was awarded. However, it was given, and Dings lead 5-27. And when Dings’ energetic 9 Tom Knight dotted down after he picked off a break from fullback Ciaran Donoghue just after the hour, it looked like Lucs were going to be steamrollered, being behind 5-34.
However, roared on by the ever-raucous home support, Lucs were rewarded with a try bonus point, and could have been closer had they kicked their conversions.
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, which should have resulted in a penalty try if decisions were to be consistent. However, Lucs leading try scorer for the season Ben Link touched down on 74 minutes for his eighteenth try of the season.
And 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 seasons final try when he took a quick tap penalty and was able to dart through to give Lucs their valuable bonus point try. They will rue the missed conversion as the score line probably should have been closer than it finished.
In a game that wasn’t pretty, and some decision making didn’t lead to it being a spectacle, both sides will be well pleased with their season’s endeavours, especially Luctonians, to achieved their highest position ever in this ultra-competitive league.
FULL TIME SCORE
Luctonians RFC 20 v 34 Dings Crusaders RFC
“We finished the game with one 18 year old and two 19 year olds on the pitch, and that’s got to be good for next season.”
Tomo talks live on the BBC, after the final whistle. Click here to listen on BBC Sounds.
SCORERS
Luctonians
Tries: James Wheeler (13), Aiden Cheshire (65), Ben Link (74), Josh Nott (75)
Dings Crusaders
Tries: Solomon Taufa (19), Chris Rovery (40), Penalty (59), Thomas Knight (63)
Conv: TJ Wilstead (20,40,70)
Pens: TJ Wilstead (16,23)
STAR MAN
Chris Rovery
Dings Crusaders
LUCTONIANS MAN OF THE MATCH
TEAMS
Luctonians
Watkins, Grimes, Bengry, Parkes, Wheeler, Silver, Nott : Deignan, Link, White, Whiteman, Benson, Geraghty, Robinson, Cheshire
Replacements: Smith, Powell, Pearson, Hayler, Davies
Dings Crusaders
Donoghue, Jones, Smith, Brooker, Taufa, Wilstead, Knight : Taylor, Hawkesby, English, Casson, Thompson, Bilton A, Anderson, Rovery
Replacements: Appleton, O’Donnell, Bilton O, Stapleton, Millner
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