1st TEAM Match Report
Saturday 20th March 2010
League Game
Lutterworth 22pts v Leicester Forest 6pts
Watching Lutterworth for the last few weeks it is hard to believe that for nearly all season they have languished close to the bottom of the league table. Once again as in previous weeks at Vipers and Peterborough their endeavour and work rate could not be faulted and all afternoon they looked a class apart from a lacklustre Forest. The win was decisive enough with the home side clocking up three unanswered tries and what is fast becoming the near faultless boot of Robin Eager adding the icing on the cake with two conversions and a penalty. It was not however an easy ride, both sides were guilty of a huge amount of technical infringements, ill discipline and unforced errors. Things were made further difficult ten minutes into the second period when following a nasty ankle injury to winger Tommy Carter the game was halted for over half an hour before he could be carried from the field. Fortunately the injury is not too serious although he will probably not be playing again this season.
Lutterworth started into the freshening breeze and immediately looked dangerous but over zealous at the breakdown as they handed Forest an early easy penalty in front of the posts. The home side were soon back on the front foot and steamed into the opposition twenty two with a perfectly executed ten metre driving maul and although they did not manage to turn territory into points, minutes later Eager slotted an equalising penalty. Another unnecessary penalty handed back the lead to Forest but despite losing Rob Sands to the sin bin the first forty ended with the home side defending superbly to keep the halfway score to a creditable 3-6.
After the break rain was lashing across the ground as Lutterworth really began to get a grip on the game, they had defended well but now the attacking machine clicked into place. Under severe pressure the Forest defence fumbled and sharp as a razor, young centre, Tom Goldsworthy scampered over for the first try of the day. Minutes later Charlie Turner, who had been busy in the loose and imperious in the lineout, gathered again and set up another brilliant thirty metre drive. This time the hard yards were not squandered as prop, Tom Kilburn, went over for number two. Carter sustained his injury and after the too long stoppage it seemed likely that Lutterworth might not be able to regain their momentum. They were made of sterner stuff and shortly after the restart, Rob Sands added the final score and put the game well out of Forest’s reach. ‘Inappropriate verbal celebration’ by skipper Paul Riley saw him ordered to the ‘bin’ quickly followed by Sands collecting his second yellow. (It is unfortunate that some referees appear mystified by Rob’s ability to stay on his feet even when his chin is nearly on the ground!) Forest were unable to produce anything even against thirteen men as Lutterworth held out and finished the second half without conceding a single point due in no small measure by the hard tackling and determination brought on by replacements Lee Donovan (the ‘Corby Assassin’) and Simon Deacon. Next Saturday Lutterworth visit high flying Market Harborough, can they continue and maintain their resurgence at the end of a season when they have been high on endeavour but often short on luck? Watch this space!
Scoring: 0-3, 3-3, 3-6, 10-6, 17-6, 22-6
Team: Kilburn Riley Jones
Randle Sands Turner
Higgins Dann
Ball Eager Goldsworthy Carter
Daffern
Reps: Johnson Deacon Donovan
Try Scorers: Goldsworthy, Kilburn, Sands
Eager - 1 penalty, 2 conversions.
Lutterworth ‘man of the match’ Robin Eager