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1st TEAM   Match Report

Saturday 8th December 2007

Senior Vase Round 4

LUTTERWORTH  1st : 43pts  v  SOUTHWELL 1st :  11pts

On an afternoon when conditions were bad enough to threaten the playing of the fixture lock Chris Gregory put in an inspired captain’s performance to lead his team to an emphatic victory over a spirited Southall fifteen.

Lutterworth founded their win on a hard grafted and well organised first half, playing into the strong prevailing wind and restricting the visitors to a meagre six points from two converted penalties.

Southall took the lead after only five minutes of play, the home side responded strongly but despite camping on the Southall line for another five minutes they were unable to break through the visitor’s defences. Southall’s second three pointer spurred Lutterworth to another period of intense pressure which finally saw winger, Phil Daffern, streak over in the corner. The Lutterworth pack was now firmly in control and towards the end of the period Southall conceded a penalty five metres out, the home side opted for a scrum, the hapless defenders were slithered backwards over the greasy surface and number eight, Dennis Hall grounded the ball to give his team a first half lead of ten to six.

Now with the wind at their backs Lutterworth took full advantage in the second forty with a fine display of well organised clinical attacking. Bobby Williams inflicted the first damage with two successful penalty attempts and after some terrific work by the forwards, scrum half, Gareth Court chipped the ball over the defence and Daffern was on hand for his second try of the afternoon. Down but not out, Southall responded with a finely crafted try but Lutterworth came straight back, full back Jez Bell going over after some remarkably good handling in the appalling conditions by the backs. Williams hit another penalty and new boy James Prince eagerly gobbled up a lovely off load from flanker Matt Randle to score on his first team debut (yes he did buy Matt’s beer all night!) Adam Conway now playing like a man inspired at number eight, delivered the coup de grace with a final well deserved five points taking Lutterworth into round five of the competition.

Scoring: 0-3; 0-6; 5-6; 10-6;13-6; 16-6; 21-6; 21-11; 28-11; 31-11; 38-11, 43-11.

 Team:                  Renshaw   Riley   Stevens

                                     I.Johnson   Gregory

                                    Conway   Hall   Randle    

                                          Court    Croucher     

                          Stretton  Williams  Nolan   Daffern

                                                   Bell

Reps:    Wilford

              Husthwaite

              Evans

              Prince