1st TEAM Match Report
Saturday 10th September 2005
LEAGUE: MIDLANDS 3 EAST (South)
LUTTERWORTH 1st XV: 16 Banbury 1st XV: 19
For the neutral spectator this was a thrilling game of rugby. Banbury, a team much improved since last season, were a huge test for an injury depleted home side who were further diminished when flanker, Mark Ellis, pulled a hamstring early in the first half. The resulting nail biting battle provided a result only after the final whistle.
The contest began slowly both sides circumspect like gladiators circling and probing, looking for a weakness. Banbury matched one successful penalty kick from two attempts by Lutterworth’s Tim Jeffs. The stalemate was broken when Bobby Williams set up Paul Riley for Lutterworth’s first try. After a prolonged period of pressure Banbury’s winger, Lawson Steele, ran in a converted try giving the visitors a two point half time advantage. After the restart the drama really began. Banbury slotted another penalty but Jeffs replied. Lutterworth then took control when Jim Croucher launched a huge penalty kick for touch into the visitor’s twenty-two. From the resulting lineout the ball, played wide, eventually reached the safe hands of Bobby Williams who touched down in the corner to level the scores at sixteen all. The last ten minutes were played on pure adrenalin. The poor discipline that unfortunately featured all afternoon allowed Banbury another penalty in front of the posts and gave them a three point lead with only seven minutes left. Lutterworth missed a relatively easy penalty which would have levelled the score but willed themselves into a massive last five minutes throwing everything at the visitor’s defences. Banbury repeatedly cleared the ball poorly, failing to find touch and booting it to Lutterworth’s back three of Williams, Barber and Donovan who counter attacked time and time again. In the dying minutes Lutterworth threw away the opportunity to win this riveting contest by making a complete hash of a lineout in the visitor’s twenty-two. Despite what at times came very close to a great performance and scoring two tries to one, Lutterworth’s poor finishing, lack of discipline and self control cost them what would have been a memorable victory.
Next Saturday Lutterworth host Old Laurentians in the first round of the Powergen Cup. K.O. 2.30pm.