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Under 16 Match Report

Saturday 4th February 2007

County Cup,  Plate Semi-Final

Lutterworth 37pts  v Coalville 17pts

Lutts battle through to yet another Final!

Lutterworth under 16’s travelled to Coalville on Sunday in the Semi Final of this season’s County Plate and eventually battled through to an excellent 37-17 win. Head Coach Chris Everard had kept faith the players who had done him proud over the last few months, while the County and Midland players had been away and they repaid him with some enterprising and incisive play.

It was end to end in the first 20 minutes as both teams scored a couple of tries apiece. Lutts opened the scoring with a lovely try from Gareth Clarke as good hands by Will Keeling put Clarke through at speed to break through and over the line.  Keeling converted the score. Coalville then showed their strength in the forwards as they took line out ball and drove Brad Margerrison over the line to score. Lutterworth’s Luke Ball then picked up in his own half, making great ground before releasing Keeling and on to Clarke, who ran in from half way, for his second. Coalville immediately replied thanks to the power of their forwards and a penalty try, which Sam Blackburn converted, to make it 12-12. Lutterworth then scored the try of the game as the ball was moved through six sets of hands before reaching Andrew Pridding out on the on the wing. He made a lovely run to score in the corner, making it 17-12 to Lutts at half time.

With minimal changes at half time, Lutterworth came out the more determined and quickly extended the score through a Keeling penalty before captain Matt Everard scored a lovely try. Bradly Milner caught the restart before passing to Everard who made a rampaging run from deep in his own half, all the way up to the opposition try line to finish off a fantastic solo effort. Keeling converted to make it 27-12. Gareth Clarke then finished off a great personal performance as he run in his hat trick from another mazy run from the half way line. Coalville never let their heads drop and from a 5-metre scrum, the ball was passed out to Tom Carter on the wing, to dive over in the corner. It was left to Lutts to have the last say as good work from Clarke, saw the ball hacked on by Jack Edwards, who then won the race the drop on the ball, making it 37-17 to Lutterworth at full time.

Head Coach Chris Everard said, “I was very pleased with my squad who showed some great decision making skills, especially in the second half. A couple of our scores showed some superb handling and it was a fully committed display from all the squad. Well done also to Coalville who played out of their skins in the first half, but I think the score line eventually reflected our dominance”.

Lutts will go on to face Market Harborough in the County Plate Final, to be played at Leicester Road, Hinckley on 1st April.