1st TEAM Match Report
Saturday 23rd February 2008
League Match
LUTTERWORTH 1st : 11pts V Wellingborough 1st 25pts
This game was a replay of the fixture of 19th January nullified by The League after the attrition of Wellingborough’s front row led to uncontested scrums.
The final result flatters the visitors, in a finely balanced, close fought and thrilling encounter the two sides were pretty evenly matched and it was only in the final ten minutes that Wellingborough snatched the game with two converted tries. The visitors were superior in one vital area and that was the lineout, whilst Lutterworth struggled in this department all afternoon, Wellingborough took all of their own ball as well as nearly half of Lutterworth’s mainly due to a faultless performance by their jumper, lock, Nick Murphy.
Although Wellingborough clinched the game late in the second period, Lutterworth needed but failed to accumulate a sufficient first half lead to counter the inevitable second half disadvantage of playing into the very strong wind.
The first quarter defined the game, both teams were determined to stamp their authority and in the pressure cooker environment defence was everything. Boro’ cracked first with Bobby Williams converting a penalty after ten minutes but the visitors likewise quickly replied. Lutterworth pressure was relentless and after twenty minutes hooker, Al Johnson touched down from an unstoppable drive by the forwards. Everything was starting to look rosy for the home side as Williams kicked another three points from the half way line but just before the break the game was turned against the run of play by an opportunist try for Wellingborough’s winger, Dominic Smart.
Only three points adrift at half time, Wellingborough now looked favourites and soon levelled the scores with a successful penalty kick. Lutterworth had other ideas and every one of the fifteen defended heroically. The pack were back to their best form taking at least three scrums against the head and making hard yards into the wind assisted Wellingborough defence. Number eight, Dennis Hall was inspirational in defence and attack and pick of the backs for his work rate was centre, Grant Nolan who put in tackle after tackle. Wellingborough, lying second in the league, are no mugs and with the elements as their allies inevitably exposed the chinks in the home side’s defences to allow Smart to run in those two final cruel tries for his own very satisfying hat trick.
On a very positive note, Lutterworth will be looking next season to tap the rich vein of talent running through the current Colts side and this was typified by fine performances from new boys, Richard Bailey on the flank and Ben Hooper at full back both who looked, once again, comfortably at home in first team shirts.
Scoring: 3-0, 3-3, 8-3, 11-3, 11-8, 11-11, 11-18, 11-25.
Team; Wilford A.Johnson Stevens
Conway Gregory
Bailey Hall Randle
Court Croucher
Daffern Williams Nolan Ford
Hooper
Reps; I.Johnson
Stretton
Prince