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1st TEAM   Match Report

Saturday 17th March 2007

League Fixture and County Cup

SYSTON 1st XV: 22pts    V  LUTTERWORTH  1st XV: 13pts 

This season’s defining game of The League fulfilled all expectations; a battle royal worthy of the top two sides. The winning margin does not tell the whole story; a more relevant judgement is that Syston won by a margin of three tries to two. It is not for me to judge Syston’s performance but I would guess that like Lutterworth this is the best they have played all season. The key to the final result was the commitment and organisation of Syston’s outstanding defence, documented by their miserly ‘points conceded’ record this season.  Another gratifying eighteen man performance by Lutterworth; their ball carriers were relentless especially Chris Gregory, time again Gregory along with lock, Ben Husthwaite, number eight Dennis Hall and centre Bobby Williams crashed into the Syston lines but were repeatedly repelled. Open side flanker Geraint Davies was tireless covering acres of ground both in attack and defence. Any other side at this level would have buckled but they held firm and despite having far less territory and possession, more often than not when they visited Lutterworth’s twenty-two they came away rewarded. The Lutterworth front row of Wilford, Johnson, Stevens and replacement Riley were on pulverising form but again the opposition managed to do just enough to avoid being overwhelmed and their simple lineout technique allowed them at least parity in that area of the set piece against on form Lutterworth locks, Husthwaite and Evans.

The first quarter of the game was tense, highly charged and rapid. When after twelve minutes of nail biting stuff the home side broke through for their first try it was probably marginally against the run of play. Lutterworth responded strongly with a Williams penalty and five minutes later their first five pointer was a gem. This time Gregory and Husthwaite were making big inroads and after several phases scrum half, Jez Bell began a move that took in every Lutterworth back finally being carried over in style by new boy, Tom Carter who along with fellow winger, Phil Daffern was rock steady.

Lutterworth’s Jim Croucher this week playing at fullback had kicked well out of hand during the first period but as the home side gained the advantage of the wind after the break their stand-off was relentless with boot. Tom Carter was in the action again coolly picking up and running back a difficult ball to prevent Syston scoring but minutes later they followed up an earlier penalty with a second try. Undismayed the Lutterworth pack rampaged back hitting the Syston line with everything. The Syston defence was stretched beyond it’s considerable skill into illegally stemming the flow and after three consecutive penalties five metres out Syston must count themselves fortunate that they went unpunished both by the opposition and the referee. All the unrewarded effort seemed to exhaust Lutterworth and Syston were allowed to steal a final five points for an unassailable lead in the dying minutes. However before the final whistle, Mr. Reliable, Alan Johnson crashed over to finalise a score that was more commensurate with a game won on balance by the marginally better side. 

Scoring: 7-0; 7-3; 7-8;  10-8; 17-8; 22-8; 22-13

Team:                    Wilford    A.Johnson.  Stevens

                                          Husthwaite  Evans

                                  Gregory   Hall     Davies

                                             Bell   Court                      

                          Daffern  Williams  Newman   Carter 

                                               Croucher

Reps:      Riley  A.Johnson  Roberson