LUCS 26 – 17 LOUGHBOROUGH

THE STUDENTS THREW EVERYTHING AT US

Luctonians RFC vs Loughborough Students RFC
Saturday 6th December 2025 – Mortimer Park
Match Report by Geoff Vickress

A spirited second half performance from the Students saw them claw their way back into this game after they had fallen behind by 26 points, as Lucs indiscipline almost cost them dearly when they received three yellows and a red card for infringements during the 80 minutes, playing at least a third of the game with only 13 players. However, their first half performance, where they dominated proceedings, was enough to see them, on balance of play, deserve the win.

Charlie Grimes opened the scorebook when he powered through after early Lucs pressure (5-0). Jack Murphy, for the Students, incurred the wrath of the referee and saw yellow for a tip tackle, before the Lucs powerhouse that is Owien Harriott-Davis stretched his long levers over the whitewash on 15 minutes to increase the home advantage; Owen Randell converting (12-0).

Lucs were now dominant, and their set piece had the Students on the back foot for large periods. It was no surprise when Man of the Match Sam Hayler scored from off the back of scrum in the Students’ red zone; Randell converting, to send the teams in at half time with the home side, leading 19-0, looking like winning comfortably.

Half Time Score
Luctonians RFC 19 – 0 Loughborough Students RFC

However, the second half didn’t start with the same accord for Lucs. Owen Randell was yellow carded after 41 minutes and Caleb Montgomery minutes later, both for high tackles. With the home side down to 13 players, Students upped the ante and played some excellent running rugby, often from deep in their own 22, with their swift back line attempting to break through Lucs’ depleted numbers.

Tom Jones however, kicked superbly for the home side and his deep kicks resulted in a line out maul deep in Students territory, from which the try scoring hooker, Ben Link, for the home side, emerged to dot down. Randell who had just returned to the field following his yellow, converting for a 26-0 lead on 51 minutes.

Loughborough however, were not for giving up, and Rhys Hulse ran in a wingers try just on the hour mark, to reduce the scores to 26-5. Lucs then fell afoul of the referee’s ire, when Randell received his second yellow, ultimately a red card, for another high tackle after 65 minutes.

Students upped the ante once again, and Louis Nancekivell darted over from 30 yards, after 69 minutes, to bring them back to a 26-10 scoreline; conversion from touch being missed.

The home support was starting to get nervous, and rightly so, as the Students used their pace and man advantage to find Hulse again free and speeding towards the tryline, this time to be dumped into touch by James Mear for the home side, but he was adjudged to have used a no arms tackle, and referee Mr Lloyd Davies awarded the Students a penalty try on 71 minutes; Mear seeing yellow, which left the home side down to 13 players once again, for the final 10 minutes.

The home side however, dug deep and held out and, despite Students throwing all their resource at the depleted home side, they couldn’t get within scoring distance to earn a bonus point for their efforts.

Full Time Score
Luctonians RFC 26 – 17 Loughborough Students RFC

Lucs will travel to top of table Cambourne next week, in the league’s crunch game, with Students welcoming Chester to the University.

Star Man
Sam Hayler
Luctonians RFC

On our Facebook page, you can check out the Live scoreline and shortly, more pics and a grandstand view of the try highlights.

Picture Credit – Andrew Hargraves, Luctonians