OLD REDS  29 – LUCS 40 

LUCS WIN THE BATTLE AT OLD REDS

Old Redcliffians vs Luctonians RFC
Saturday 10th January 2026
Match Report by Geoff Vickress

A Happy New Year to all you fellow Black and White supporters. Play day arrived following the Christmas break with no games played for a couple weeks and limited training, and with the weather hampering preparations the Lucs boys would have seen this as difficult fixture away at Old Reds, who on the road are one of our known bogey teams, whereas we generally put them to the sword at home. 

And it was a battle once again, with the boys coming out winners with a bonus point performance. However, it wasn’t all one way and Old Reds played their part in what was a very entertaining game refereed superbly by Mr Peter Connor. First half Old Reds were ultra-competitive playing downhill on their sloping piste, and were good money for their opening score after 4 minutes when Oliver Stratton barged through Lucs tacklers, Ashley Groves converting for an early 7-0 lead.

 10 minutes later OR’s stretched their advantage when second row Will Blowers dotted down following again some strong forward work, Groves again converting for a 14-point lead. OR’s full back Finn Murphy saw yellow for a couple of high tackles shortly afterwards, giving Lucs a man advantage, and they started to gain some momentum and pressure in the game. They were unfortunate when Rob Aikman was held up over the whitewash and were close on a couple of other occasions but were denied by a defiant home defensive line. Murphy returned as Old Reds held out for his sinbinning, but even they couldn’t stop James Mear running in to reduce arrears on the half hour following a delightful chip kick and pass from Jonty Monk, who was superb throughout, Bryn Goodall converting for Lucs first points (14-7).  It looked like this would be the half time score as Lucs continued to keep their opponents pinned in their half, but a penalty was knocked over by Groves just before the referee blew for the recess giving the home side a 17-7 lead, but increasingly under the pump from a very workaholic Lucs side.

Half Time Score
Old Redcliffians RFC 17 – 7 Luctonians RFC

The second half could be described as the Bryn Goodall show, but I am sure he will share the plaudits, as his three try scores thrown into the mix of a 33-point second half from Lucs saw them home comfortably, this despite Old Reds never giving up the game and adding another 12 to their half time tally. Jonty Monks deep kick put the home side on the back foot early doors and from a scrum penalty his swift ball to Frank Kelly deftly passed onto Goodall saw him dance away between the OR back row and manage to dot down for an early response (17-12). Lucs rolled forward imperiously, and from the restart a penalty kick to touch the deep into their opponent’s territory saw the forwards set up Monk again to pass out to Goodall, whose long pass put Rob Aikman away on the wing to dive in unopposed, and after missing his earlier attempt in front of the posts he steered this one over from the touchline to give the Lucs the lead at 17-19. Old Reds stuck to their task well and crept back into the lead when Radico Bailey crept over just before the hour, conversion missed (22-17), but Lucs continued to play flowing rugby and Monk’s pass to Tom Jones, now on at 10, allowed Frank Kelly to put Goodall away, now playing at full back, from halfway to score his second, TJ converting to put the Lucs back in front 22-26. Lucs continued to exert pressure and their tiring opponent’s had no answer minutes later to the power of Owien Harriot-Davis and Brad Smith with tacklers bouncing off them, before Smiths offload put Jonty Monk away for a deserved score under the posts, TJ again converting for a clear daylight lead at 22-33.  Goodall intercepted a loose OR pass deep in Lucs territory with 5 minutes left to run in un-challenged to seal the results for Lucs, TJ converting (22-40), although Old Red’s stuck to their guns and did manage a further score in the dying seconds through Alex Bairstow, again converted by Groves to see the clock run out with a scoreline of 29-40. 

A very entertaining game which sees the Lucs still challenging Camborne at the top of Nat 2 West, with Exeter University visiting next Saturday to Mortimer Park. Old Redcliffians will regroup and travel to Chester.   

Full Time Score
Old Redcliffians RFC 29 – 40 Luctonians RFC

Luctonians Star Man – Bryn Goodall

Luctonians Man of the Match – Jonty Monk

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