1st TEAM Match Report
SATURDAY 1st NOVEMBER 2003
LEAGUE: MIDLANDS 3 EAST (South)
TOWCESTER 1st XV: 29 LUTTERWORTH 1st XV: 35
‘Normal service has been resumed’ announced Lutterworth coach, Dave Turner, after his side turned around last week’s disappointing defeat. Turner, however, was not happy with the huge number of penalties given away after a thrilling start by Lutterworth who went 21 to 0 in front after only fifteen minutes of play. The penalty count gave Towcester directly 10 points and allowed them to get back into a game that should have been easily won by the visitors but instead finished in nail biting fashion.
The game started at furious pace with those first three tries coming from Dennis Hall, Charlie Roberson and Dave Simpkin all converted by fly half, Jim Croucher. Towcester quickly replied with one converted and an unconverted try. Shortly before half time Lutterworth man of the match, Lee Donovan spotted a gap in the Towcester defence and took the ball over the line for an inspired individual try, converted again by Croucher, to make the half time score 12 to 28.
During the second period penalties conceded by Lutterworth led to the home side scoring a converted try and kicking another three points. Flying winger Phil Daffern went over for the visitors with Croucher converting. Minutes later, Daffern had a fine effort disallowed. A Towcester try and conversion reduced the points gap to only six and during the final ten minutes dogged resistance against determined pressure from Towcester gave Lutterworth a narrow but well deserved victory.