1st TEAM Match Report

Saturday 30th October 2004

LEAGUE: MIDLANDS 3 EAST (South)

LUTTERWORTH 1st XV: 36 WELLINGBOROUGH 1st XV: 22

With first team captain Dennis Hall out for some weeks with a broken wrist, Vice Captain, Paul Wilford led from the front in what was Lutterworth’s most impressive performance of the season so far.

Fly half, Tim Jeffs was in scintillating form and kicked a one hundred per cent eight out of eight attempts, (three conversions and five penalties) to give Lutterworth the edge in this thrilling encounter which was helped by first class refereeing.

Lutterworth started the game with a new found resolve and determination, none more so than flanker, Rob Sands who after only four minutes receiving a ball robbed from Wellingborough’s lineout by hooker Paul Riley, set up winger Jim Croucher who had put in a perfectly timed run for try number one. Jeffs duly converted and was soon in the action again minutes later when his well executed box kick was caught and taken over by flying Phil Daffern.

Wellingborough rallied from this double blow and came back with a penalty and a fine try from their lineout after the home side conceded another penalty. Jeffs slotted another nine points during the first half to give Lutterworth a 23 to 10 lead.

Wellingborough came back strongly after the break and scored a breakaway try to get within sniping distance of the Lutterworth lead but Charlie Roberson quickly replied with try number three and two more converted penalty attempts by Jeffs meant that Boro’s third and final try still left them 14 points adrift at the whistle.

Although Jeffs fine performance gave him ‘man of the match’ coach, it seems unfair to pick out individuals in what was a superb fifteen man effort, however mention must be given to centre Nick (shed) Hutt whose second half performance was immense and the work rate of the second row of Ben Husthwaite and Ian Johnson who with the rest of the pack gave the backs the platform and the opportunity to show their undisputed skill and speed.