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1st TEAM   Match Report

Saturday 15th September 2007

League Match

LUTTERWORTH  1st : 33pts  V  Northampton BBOB 1st 8pts

Lutterworth proved that seven days is a long time in rugby turning around last week’s disappointing league opener and outclassing Northampton BBOB in most departments. The side was far better balanced and organised and on occasions delighted the crowd with flashes of incisive attacking as well as dogged defence. Coach, Mick Welham is overall very pleased with the way the side is progressing and feels that there is still a lot more to offer. He was however disappointed with the penalty count especially when the team came under pressure and resorted to illegal panicky attempts get their hands on the ball.

Northampton opened the scoring with an early converted penalty but it was prop Paul Wilford who took on an interception, catching and taking the ball over as though he had always played in the midfield, giving Bobby Williams the opportunity to kick the first of his four out of five conversions.  For the remaining thirty minutes of the half Lutterworth were rampant winning the contest both in the set piece and in open play. Full back Dan Ford finished off try number two after some fine handling by the backs was set up by good phases of forward play. Ben Husthwaite carried over from unstoppable scrummaging led by the newly formed front row of Wilford, Williamson and Dillow. Husthwaite was involved again in the next score, catching and stylishly off loading to winger Ben Stretton after scrum half, Gareth Court, had cleverly chipped the ball over the defence.

Absolutely in the ascendancy and with a first half lead of 28 to 3 it appeared as though the home side would overwhelm BBOB in the second period. It was not to be, the visitors came back strongly after the break. Lutterworth’s defensive skills were severely tested for the next fifteen minutes and both Paul Wilford and Ben Stretton put in try saving tackles to keep the scoresheet clean.  Half way through the forty minutes an unfortunately typical lapse in concentration and complete absence of tackles allowed the Northampton winger to break through for a consolation try, however replacement Alan Johnson went over from the back of a driving maul to level the second half score at five each.

New to Lutterworth League rugby, Dave Stannard on the back row, Joe Williamson and Steve Dillow in the front row were all outstanding but it was that man again Paul Wilford who was the pick of the home side crop.

Scoring: 0-3; 7-3; 14-3; 21-3; 28-3; 28-8; 33-8.

Team;                         Wilford   Williamson  Dillow

                                           Evans  Husthwaite

                                 Conway    Stannard   Gregory

                                             Court   Croucher                      

                          Stretton  Williams  Donovan  Daffern 

                                                      Ford

Reps;     A.Johnson  Carter  Bell