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1st TEAM   Match Report

Saturday 21st  October 2006

League Fixture

SPALDING 1st XV: 27   V   LUTTERWORTH  1st XV: 32 

Lutterworth played in fits and starts especially during the final twenty minutes when they allowed Spalding back into a game that looked all but won. Despite a nail biting finish the visitors came away from the former Midlands One club with two points that once again owed much to the dominance of the front eight. No one typifies that domination more than prop, Paul Wilford, his presence in the front row is sometimes surprisingly surpassed by his work rate in the loose and in this hard fought contest he and number eight, Dennis Hall were outstanding. Scrum half, Adam Higgins, put in his best performance of the season so far and centre, Lee Donovan led by example in marshalling the mid field defence.

Lutterworth for the first time this season started strongly and after ten minutes back row, Chris Gregory, scored his debut try for the club touching down from a five-metre scrum. A lone penalty conversion from Bobby Williams was Lutterworth’s only reply to Spalding’s two tries and penalty during the remainder of the half and at the break the visitors trailed by 15 points to 8.

The tables were turned in the third quarter of play when Lutterworth delighted their faithful band of travelling supporters with some superb play. They notched up four consecutive tries and two conversions to take a 17 point lead, two for prolific scorer, Alan Johnson, a well deserved five points for Adam Higgins and a beautifully crafted move finished in style by winger, Ben Stretton. Down but not out, Spalding came back bravely for the final twenty minutes, their efforts and some sloppy defence and poor tackling by the visitors allowed them to get within a tantalising five points but Lutterworth held on to celebrate a worthy victory.      

Scoring:  0-5; 5-5; 5-8; 12-8; 15-8,15-13; 15-20; 15-25; 15-32; 22-32; 27-32.