Photo Credit: Andrew Hargraves
Luctonians RFC vs Hornets RFC
Saturday 9th November 2024 – Mortimer Park
Full Time – Luctonians RFC 22 – 19 Hornets RFC
Man of the Match – Ben Link ©
Luctonians will be breathing a huge sigh of relief after narrowly beating a very game Hornets side 22-19 in a very hotly contested game at a very, murky and misty autumnal Mortimer Park.
Hornets will rue the opportunity to have levelled the game up with a penalty at the death, but chose to kick to touch, and the unfortunate Elswood saw his kick float over the dead ball line.
The visitors had led and looked good value for a victory against the home side, who were very slow out of the blocks, and when Hornets No 8 Don Farmer was driven over after only 2 minutes, Elswood converting (0-7), it looked ominous for the home side early doors.
However, Lucs slowly got themselves back into the game and picked up their first points when Jamin Hodgkins knocked over a routine penalty after 9 minutes to reduce the deficit (3-7).
Defence was the key for both sides and the score board remained quiet until Hornets wing Huw Morgan was put away, following some clever footwork by their fullback Charlie Carter, to dot down in the corner with the conversion being missed (3-12).
And that was as good as it got for both sides for the balance of the first half. Both sides created chances, but often both were guilty of handling errors and opportunities to give away penalties, with defences on top when there were opportunities to add to their tallies.
Half Time Score
Luctonians RFC 3 – 12 Hornets RFC
Lucs’ introduction of substitute Jack Goodwin at half time gave them an immediate kick start, when they had a 25-minute purple patch where Hornets couldn’t cope with their intensity.
The home sides’ scrum was dominant, and Hornets conceded penalties giving them chance to kick deep into the visitors’ 22. And it was from a close-in driving maul on 43 minutes that Lucs captain and man of the match, Ben Link dived over to add to his regular try tally. The conversion was missed, but it dragged the deficit back to 4 points (8-12).
Then, when centre Rob Bengry crashed over 7 minutes later, following excellent work by the charging Owien Harriott-Davis, the home side led for the first time at 15-12; Hodgkins converting. And it was only minutes later that Link again was drubbing the ball down again over the whitewash, once again converted by Hodgkins to give the home side a 22-12 lead, and they were beginning to look comfortable.
However, Hornets’ back line, with fullback Charlie Carter pulling the strings, started to give the home side the jitters. And it was no surprise when they scored the try of the game, when a very smart move created by Carter put away their galloping No7 Corey Baker, who fed their scrum half Hayden Tuttiet to score by the posts. Elswood converted to see the score at 22-19 with 10 minutes to go.
The mist and darkness was descending, and Lucs rode their luck as time ran out, with Hornets winning penalty after penalty to drive towards the home side’s tryline. But they will be grateful for the last-minute error by their opponents to give them a win, to remain second in this ultra-competitive league.
Luctonians are on their long-distance travels next week to top of the table Cambourne, with Hornets looking to get back into the mix with a home game against Cinderford.
