LUCS 12 – 5 DEVONPORT

LUCS FAIL TO DRIVE HOME ADVANTAGE

Luctonians RFC vs Devonport Services RFC
Saturday 18th January 2025 – Mortimer Park
Match Report by Geoff Vickress

Devonport Services will rue missed opportunities to secure a win against a miss-firing Luctonians in the gloom on this cold Saturday afternoon at Mortimer Park.

Keeping the home side pegged back in their own half for large periods of the second half, they failed to press home their dominance and win what was a game low on entertainment value.

Lucs started the first half with gusto and looked like they might run away with the game when, after 10 minutes, Bryn Goodhall was put through on halfway and his deft inside pass to scrum half Owen Randell saw him scurrying over for the first points of the match (5-0), with the extras being missed.

And it was after 24 minutes that Lucs second row Owien Harriott-Davis added their second. Following concerted Lucs pressure, he wormed his way through tacklers to dot down; Jack Park adding the extras for a 12-0 lead.

The home side probably should have driven home their advantage, as they had been in Devonport territory on numerous occasions in the first 30 minutes but failed to make it over the whitewash to add to their tally.

But Devonport wouldn’t roll over and they dug deep, giving the home side plenty to worry about with ball in hand, Man of the Match No10 Richard Goldsby, throwing accurate passes out and setting up their back line and charging forwards with some very astute passing.

Lucs at times were well under the pump and survived the remainder of the first half by the skin of their teeth, with their wing Charlie Grimes being yellow carded for what was an innocuous incident on half time.

Half Time Score
Luctonians RFC 12 – 0 Devonport Services RFC

The second half started with Devonport playing some expansive rugby, Lucs uncharacteristically missing tackles and allowing their opponents to grow in confidence. So it was no surprise when they did eventually get on the score sheet after just 4 minutes of the second half, with wing George Pooley finishing off a flowing move across their back line in the corner; conversion missed (12-5).

And that was it as far as troubling the score board went; neither side would add to their scores. It wasn’t for lack of endeavour, especially from Devonport who spent long periods in Lucs territory, often winning scrum penalties and taking advantage of the home side’s handling errors.

The home side however defended stoutly and, despite suffering a further two yellow cards in the last 10 minutes, full back Bryn Goodall for a knock-on when attempting to intercept a pass, with Rob Bengry following after 81 minutes for a technical foul, they held out.

Full Time Score
Luctonians RFC 12 – 5 Devonport Services RFC

Lucs will probably be more than grateful for the victory after what was a very uninspiring performance, and Devonport will travel home wondering what they have to do to secure their third win of the season.

Both sides will look to bounce back next weekend with Luctonians on their travels to Macclesfield, and Devenport hosting top four Cinderford.

Star Man
Richard Goldsby
Devonport Services

On our Facebook page, you can check out the Live scoreline with goal-line video footage of the Lucs tries.

Picture Credit – Andrew Hargraves. Luctonians