1st TEAM Match Report
Saturday 24th September 2005
LEAGUE: MIDLANDS 3 EAST (South)
NORTHAMPTO MO 1st XV: 24 V LUTTERWORTH 1st XV: 24
Having lost home and away to Mens Own last season, bringing home a point looks like a good result, but in the words of one Mens Own official; ‘you really let us out of jail today’.
The front row of Wilford, Stevens and Johnson were always in charge and led a pack that dominated the set piece. Scrum half, Gareth Court and Jim Croucher at standoff are proving a formidable combination this season and there is pace aplenty out-wide from Phil Daffern and new boy, Mark Barber. Unfortunately at the moment there are two elements missing that are preventing this young Lutterworth side from becoming real contenders in this league. Despite having more than sixty or seventy per cent possession, the visitors were once again unable to convert that possession into points firstly because of an inability to actually carry the ball over the line and secondly because of what is fast becoming a dire spot kicking record.
The game itself was a rugby treat. During the opening ten minutes Lutterworth were rampant but were rewarded only with a missed penalty attempt. On fifteen minutes a well worked lineout catch and drive allowed Gareth Court to take the ball over in typical determined fashion. The pattern of the game, Lutterworth scoring, Mens Own replying, was set when the home side equalised ten minutes later. Lutterworth missed another penalty attempt but took the lead again just before the whistle when, from a ten meter lineout, Ian Johnson set up brother Alan to take the ball over in the corner.
After ten minutes of the second period during which the home side snatched the lead with a converted try, Jim Croucher ran from deep, collected the ball from off the top of the lineout, and ran a devastating straight line through the Northampton defence for the best try of the game. Once again Mens Own came back with another five points but the game looked won for Lutterworth when Mark Barber fly hacked seventy metres and touched down to gain a 24 to 19 lead. The final ten minutes belonged to the home side who despite losing two attacking scrums against the head and dogged defence by Lutterworth were finally gifted an easy equalising try from a Lutterworth lineout that was nothing short of a shambles.
Next Saturday Lutterworth host Stewarts and Lloyds, kick off 3.00pm.