BARNSTAPLE 24 – 23 LUCTONIANS

AT HOME, BARUM ARE A STIFF TEST FOR ANYONE

Barnstaple RFC vs Luctonians RFC
Saturday 14th February 2026 – Pottington Road
Match Report by Geoff Vickress

A large Valentines Day crowd at Barnstaple’s Pottington Road ground gave the home side plenty of support in this intriguing fixture, with second place Luctonians looking to extend their promotion push against the home side. 

Barum however, at home, are a stiff test for anyone, and so it proved to be as they defended superbly against a slightly out of sorts Black and Whites and took full advantage of their opportunities to record a close victory by one point.

Lucs had the scoreboard in action first, when their full back George Bennett capitalised on good work from a Jonty Monk offload and Frank Kelly’s pass saw Bennett break through out wide to touch down, Goodall missing a difficult kick. But the Lucs were ahead 0-5 after only 2 minutes. 

Barum however showed their strength at home, and carefully moved the ball forward through their forwards with possession play, before earning their first points when second row Brendon Darley went over the paintwork to level the score. Jacob Murphy, who had a fine game, kicked the extras for the home side, to lead 7-5 after 10 minutes.

Lucs started to turn the screws and had good ball and position, eventually earning a penalty from a high tackle which Goodall converted after 23 minutes for the Lucs to lead 7-8. And they continued to enjoy good territory, without troubling the scoreboard, the home side defending stoutly in their own half.

Goodall eventually added a second penalty from in front of the posts for a second high tackle infringement against the home side on the half hour (7-11). And that was as good as it got in the first half for Lucs, with Barum enjoying the opportunity to pressurise the visitors’ line, and were rewarded when hooker Stretch was driven over from close in following a 5mtr line out; Murphy again converting for the home side to lead 14-11 as the sides went to the sheds. 

Half Time Score
Barnstaple RFC 14 – 11 Luctonians RFC

The second half promised much, but whatever either side created was smothered by some excellent defence. Barum added to their lead after 56 minutes, when Murphy kicked a penalty to add to their lead (17-11), before Lucs scored the try of the game when excellent back line work from a turnover won by Harriott-Davis, saw Wheeler, Goodall and Grimes combine to allow Frank Kelly to race in down the touch line on the hour. Goodall converted a difficult kick to put the Lucs back in front 17-18.

It remained a tight game, and the home side responded by replying almost immediately with Dan Robson touching down, following a penalty given for a high tackle, and from the resulting line out he crashed through to give them the lead, with Murphy converting for 24-18 after 66 minutes.

Lucs had chances, and will rue missed opportunities, but managed a score with 10 minutes to go when Rob Aikman stole away down the wing to bring the score back to 24-23. A very difficult conversion was then missed, which would have seen the Lucs win by a point, however there was to be no further score, and the home side, supported superbly by the home crowd, held out to record a victory over a very game Luctonians, who couldn’t quite get the extra score before the final whistle.

Full Time Score
Barnstaple RFC 24 – 23 Luctonians RFC

A tough result for the Black and Whites, in what is a tough round of fixtures, with Cinderford up next at home this coming Saturday, followed by a trip to a rejuvenated Hinckley who have quietly sneaked up to third place behind Lucs in the league, albeit 16 points behind with a game in hand. So still plenty to play for in terms of play off positions with Camborne almost certainly to be crowned champions.

Let’s continue to get behind the Black and Whites as they maintain their push in Nat 2 West.

Luctonians Man of the Match
George Bennett

You can view video of the Lucs try highlights here.