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LUTTERWORTH 1^st XV SEASON 2005-2006

‘THE END OF AN ERA?'

This season is best described as disappointing, whilst we finished mid table in Midlands Three East (south) it always seemed that we had the ability to do so much better. This league progressed at times quite bizarrely, Banbury looked the best side, heading the table for nearly all season and yet just failing at the final hurdle to gain promotion by losing their play off game to Ilkeston. Leicester Forest with their new squad of imported players also failed to make the grade and it was old rivals Northampton Old Scouts who eventually took top spot beating Banbury by a single point.

Leighton Buzzard were easily dispatched by a margin of some twenty points in the opening game of the season and by Christmas although we had lost five of our twelve games we were still well in touch with the leaders who were having similar mixed fortunes. At that time we had scored 270 points and conceded only 202, a points difference second only to top side, Banbury. The games lost were close fought affairs, it was unfortunate that our previously rock solid kicker, Tim Jeffs, was having a torrid time with the boot and a few potential meagre points gained by way of conversions or penalties would have painted a very different picture at the top of the table. The second fixture at home to Banbury was typical, we took charge for the majority of the game but let it slip from our grasp in the dying minutes with a missed penalty attempt and a botched lineout on the visitors’ line handing them an unexpected 19 to 16 victory and setting the pattern for the rest of the season. An exciting drawn game with Northampton Mens Own was followed by a poor performance against Stewart and Lloyds but we surprised a much-hyped Leicester Forest ‘international fifteen’ with one of our best and most committed performances of the season soundly thrashing them 13 points to 10 at Hinckley Road.

Huntingdon, Stockwood Park and Daventry home and away were all brushed aside with ease but we threw away games against Northampton Casuals and Wellingborough with poor discipline and sloppy defence. We visited Old Scouts and as with the Banbury game we looked the better side until the closing minutes. The game was set alight with a hat trick of tries from our old favourite, Dave Simpkin, donning red, white and green for one of his rare appearances. With thirty minutes to go Old Scouts trailed by 14 points but as they gained confidence, we lost the plot, eventually losing by 35 to 32.

After Christmas the mixed form continued, the first game away at Huntingdon was again lost by way of a conceded penalty in the dying minutes but then Wellingborough and Northampton Casuals were blown away. Leicester Forest came to Ashby Lane determined to avenge their earlier defeat, win indeed they did but only by a margin of four points that in the final analysis was due to a soft try scored by them after our own Bobby Williams and Adam Higgins hit heads and were knocked out allowing Forest to gather the ball and score.

During the final quarter the injury problems that had beset us all season really began to bite. Key players, Dennis Hall, Rob Sands, Nick Hutt, Charlie Roberson as well as new lad, Mark Barber, had been out for most of the season and by now our stock of specialist back row players had been whittled down to two! Selection became not a problem of who to leave out but who to play out of position. This unfortunate situation of course influenced training and results and during the final run in of six games the only highlight was a solitary win against Mens Own.

As I say, it was a disappointing season but reflecting on the long-term injury situation perhaps we did not do so badly. Our best performances were against the teams that finished top when players who were possibly not automatic first team selections raised their games to thrill and delight our band of loyal and fervent supporters. It is difficult to pick individual players for praise, the pack was outstanding all season, led by Captain, Paul Wilford who played 28 times and Vice, Adam Conway who just pipped Bull by playing in all 29 games. Top try scorer was Paul Riley who burrowed and bullied his way to fifteen. Ronnie Williamson back where he belongs in the row was without doubt the most improved player. Bobby Williams took over kicking duties after Christmas and missed nothing. Gareth Court showed his pedigree once again taking the nine shirt in all but one of the 29 games played. Gareth has brought an extra dimension to the side but it would be interesting to see him take the number ten shirt?

A big thanks to Jim Brown and the ‘Forty Club’, Martin Willey for his ministrations to the wounded and most of all to Coach, Dave Turner who after seven years retires from what is without doubt the most demanding and time consuming job in The Club.

Next season we will have a change of scenery for our away fixtures having decided to take the offer of a geographical move into Midlands Three East (North). See you in Grimsby!

 Alec Wilson

1st TEAM APPEARANCES