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1st TEAM   Match Report

Saturday 2nd September 2005

LEAGUE:  MIDLANDS 3 EAST (South)

LUTTERWORTH  1st XV: 25    LEIGHTON BUZZARD 1st XV: 6

On a glorious afternoon more suited to the gentle sounds of willow upon leather the league season began in earnest at Ashby Lane.

From the whistle, Buzzard, obviously still smarting from a double drubbing last season, were penalised for a cynical and illegal challenge that clearly owed something to mistaken identity. Lutterworth held their discipline and exacted revenge shortly afterwards when Buzzard were dispossessed by a fine tackle from winger Phil Daffern who took man and ball into touch. The resulting lineout catch and drive was finished by hooker, Paul Riley, to give Lutterworth a five-point lead. Fly half Jim Croucher slotted a penalty to extend the lead to eight points. This appeared to be a wakeup call for the visitors who for the next twenty minutes played some fine phases of rugby, which thanks to stoic defending by Lutterworth resulted in only three points. At this time, just before the break, the game was on a knife-edge; whoever scored next would probably take control of the game. So it was with the stalemate broken by a wonderful try straight from the practise ground. Paul Riley took the ball from the back of the lineout typically punching a hole into the Buzzard defence and allowing the backs to spin the ball to Jim Croucher whose grace and pace left the defence standing and watching the game slip from their grasp.       

Buzzard started the second period with a successful penalty attempt but were gradually overwhelmed by the superiority of the Lutterworth pack whose forward momentum both in the set piece and the loose was typified by a lung bursting performance from stalwart prop, Marcus Stevens. Playing in the space made by the front five the Lutterworth back row and three quarters wrapped up the game with two more tries. The first scored by full back, Charlie Roberson, after some great interlinking by Phil Daffern and Tim Jeffs. The final score began with a fine interception by Adam Conway and was finished by Tim Jeffs capping a useful afternoon’s performance in the centre.

Especially satisfying for the Lutterworth coaches was the low penalty count in a game that was played at fast pace and with great commitment.

Next Saturday Lutterworth are again at home to Banbury, 3.00pm K.O.