Photo Credit: Andrew Hargraves
Luctonians RFC vs Taunton RFC
Saturday 19th October 2024 – Mortimer Park
Match Report by Geoff Vickress
Full time score – Luctonians RFC 12 – 23 Taunton RFC
Man of the Match – James Mear
Taunton Titans used their superior nous against a miss-firing Luctonians to gain a well-earned victory on the road.
Following a wet week in Herefordshire the pitch was remarkably in excellent condition thanks to superb work by the home teams ground staff.
It was as early as the second minute that Lucs’ Jack Goodwin stole through the Titans defence, kicked a deft ball into the path of wing Charlie Grimes, for an early 5-0 lead; Owen Randell converting (7-0). The home side kept early pressure on Titans and should probably have added to their lead, but Titans defended superbly to deny Lucs adding to their early score.
However, Titans showed great resolve and started to gain a foothold in the game as they in turn spent many minutes in the Lucs red zone.
Tempers however were getting frayed and, after already being spoken too by the referee, Titans prop Vaughan saw yellow for a blatant push right in front of the officials.
This allowed the home side to increase their advantage when, for a driving maul from close in, Owien Harriott-Davis was over the whitewash to lead 12-0; the conversion being missed on 22 minutes.
But that was the end of the homes team’s contribution to the points for the day. Titans were resolute and grew into the game which turned when Scrum Half Joe Snow kicked a superb 50-22 to put the away side deep in the home sides 22. From the resulting line out Lucs were on the back foot and, despite some excellent defence, Titans No 8 Ratu Vakalutukali dived over, with Louie Sinclair adding the extras to reduce the deficit to 12-7.
The excellent Charlie Wright then stepped up for Titans and kept them on the front foot for the balance of the half, and it was no surprise when Rocky Prowse went over in the corner on 36 minutes, Sinclair again converting to give the away side a 12-14 advantage.
Half Time Score
Luctonians RFC 12 – 14 Taunton RFC
Lucs’ discipline slipped as they went into the second half, and numerous penalties stymied the game, with plenty of stoppages for injuries as well the officials being kept busy with players coming on and leaving the field.
Brad Smith, for the home side, received a 10 minute break for a yellow card after 56 minutes, for a deliberate knock-on, giving Sinclair the opportunity to stretch the Titan’s lead from the resultant penalty (12-17).
Both sides had opportunities as the game ran its course, and Titans prop, Joe Atkins, received a yellow for collapsing a maul after 5 minutes. But the home side couldn’t capitalise on the numbers advantage, and Titans kept their cool to finish the game with two additional penalties, following ill-discipline from the home side, both in the last five minutes from the boot of Sinclair, to put the game beyond the home side, to cruise home 12-23.
Full Time Score
Luctonians RFC 12 – 23 Taunton RFC
Lucs will lick their wounds, as they travel to Loughborough next week for another tough fixture on the 4G, while Taunton will look to climb the table with a home fixture against fellow relegated side from last year Cinderford.
