1st TEAM Match Report
Saturday 17th September 2005
NPI Cup Round 1
LUTTERWORTH 1st XV: 20 OLD LAURENTIANS 1st XV: 16
Lutterworth gained sweet revenge over local rivals Rugby based side OL's who play in Midlands 2 a league higher than Lutts. After last seasons 22-16 loss in the same Cup Lutts turned the table with a powerful performance up front. Lutts did fall behind 3-0 through an early OL's penalty but Lutts fowards, especially the front row, were destroying their opposition and were soon level through a Bobby Williams penalty. Lutts awarded a scrum 5 metres out drove OL's back and the ever impressive number 8 Adam (Big Show) Conway picked the ball up and drove over for Lutts first try. A missed conversion but early 5-3 lead. Within minutes further Lutts pressure saw Conway charge a kick down allowing fly half Jim Croucher to score in the corner. Again the conversion was missed but the lead extended to 10-3. The opposition three-quarters were causing more problems than their forwards and were keeping their team in the game at this stage but good defence from wingers Phil Daffern and Mark Barber kept them at bay.
An early penalty in the 2nd half extended Lutts lead to 13-6 although a host of missed penalties by the home side was allowing the opposition to keep in touch - in fact OL's were now putting Lutts under lots of pressure. A mistake on the Lutts try line however allowed Mark Barber to sprint the length of the pitch to score under the posts and extend the lead to a comfortable 20-6.
Lutts then made the mistake of taking their foot of the gas allowing OL's to
score two tries and nearly sneak the win. Bullish defence by Lutts on
their own line however, and some ill discipline by OL's
resulting in a string of penalties for Lutts, relieved the
pressure and secured a fully deserved win for the home team.
Overall an excellent performance and result against higher league opposition
giving confidence that we should be able to hold our own in the
league above if we can gain promotion .