1st TEAM Match Report
Saturday 12th March 2005
LEAGUE: MIDLANDS 3 EAST (South)
LUTTERWORTH 1st XV: 32 BANBURY 1st XV: 10
This was billed as no easy fixture for although Banbury started the season dismally they have recovered with a recent run that has seen them win eight out of their last ten league games. The (Banbury) Bulls were however no match for a rampant Lutterworth side that with some rejigging to the backs and a much better performance by the back row turned round last week’s disappointing form at Northampton Mens Own, outplaying and outclassing their rivals. It was especially gratifying to see first team captain, Dennis Hall returning to form after a season that has been dogged by injury.
As is usually the case it was the Lutterworth front eight who provided the platform to allow the threequarters to play some attractive expansive football. Prop and skipper for the day, Paul Wilford, as always immense in the set piece, set the home crowd alight with an eighty minute display of ferocious tackling. It came as no surprise when the first score came from a clinically executed lineout catch and drive with hooker, Paul Riley, taking the ball over for the first of his two tries. Fifteen minutes later Riley was in the action again breaking through the Banbury lines and setting up centre, Dave Simpkin, for a sprint to the line, Lee Donovan was on hand to touch down to give the home side a 10-0 lead after 20 minutes. Banbury appeared to wake from the initial onslaught and their outstanding player on the day, flanker, Shaun Bannister, replied with the first of his two tries. Just before the interval Lutterworth full back, Bobby Williams, caught a high clearance kick and ran the ball back from deep into the visitor’s twenty two, stand off, Tim Jeffs was supporting well to take the ball over and iced the cake with a conversion that gave the home side a half time lead of 17 to 5.
The second period began much as the first with Riley scoring his second try once again from the catch and drive after Banbury were penalised. Lutterworth’s next score was the pick of the day, real fifteen man rugby, the forwards hit ruck after ruck in the opposition’s half and scrum half, Gareth Court picked exactly the right moment to open up the game with a precise pass that was duplicated by all the backs eventually reaching the safe hands of Simpkin in the far corner. Jeffs converted and added a successful drop goal attempt in the dying moments of the game replying to a fine consolation try for Banbury’s Bannister.