Photo Credit: Nigel Mee
Luctonians RFC vs Macclesfield RUFC
Saturday 5th October 2024
Match Report by Geoff Vickress
Luctonians RFC 66 – 5 Macclesfield RUFC
Man of the Match – Caleb Montgomery
League Table – https://www.ncarugby.com/national-2-west-table/
Luctonians continued their winning ways with an excellent all-round performance against a spirited Macclesfield side in front of another vocal crowd at Mortimer Park.
Lucs were superb throughout, no more so than in defence when Macclesfield were in their red zone, and they repelled their advances on more than one occasion. And when they turned on the afterburners, they ran riot scoring 9 tries with Macc managing just the one as consolation.
The home side were playing in orange shirts as part of their excellent ‘Lucs in Orange’ Charity Day, when the players shirts would be auctioned off following the game.
Lucs were on the scoreboard as early as the 2nd minute, when Lewis Parkes collected a deft James Mear dink-kick to dot down.
Jamin Hodgkins kicked the extras as he collated another 17-point haul, all from the tee in what was another kicking masterclass.
Hodgkins increased Lucs’ lead to 10-0 when he added a penalty on 8 minutes, before Conor Geraghty stole through to score, when put through by Joe White and Owien Harriott-Davis, to give the home side a 17-0 advantage.
Macclesfield gamely challenged but failed to gain any meaningful ground, throwing bodies into the Lucs back line. But the home side were resolute and turned defence into attack when the marauding Owien Harriott-Davis, who was superb throughout, crashed through the Macc defence on 35 minutes to give them a 24-0 lead at oranges, with Hodgkins converting. This after Oliver Longmore for Macclesfield had seen yellow for foul play.
Half Time Score
Luctonians RFC 24 – 0 Macclesfield RUFC
Lucs turned on the style straight away after half time when Man of the Match Caleb Montgomery was over the whitewash, following a lose line out throw from Macc within a minute of the re-start, to increase the lead to 31-0; Hodgkins again immaculate from the tee.
James Mear went over on 46 minutes, following No9 Owen Randell’s awareness to spot a hole in the Macc defence, and Montgomery and Harriott-Davis combined to put Lewis Parkes away again on 51 minutes, for his second score of the game; Hodgkins converting for the home side to lead 45-0. But he spoilt his copybook performance soon after when he saw yellow for a high tackle.
Despite being down to 14, Lucs continued to impress, and the explosive Owen Randell somehow wriggled his way over the line before taking on the kicking duties to nail the extras to lead 52-0. This was following Macclesfield’s only contribution to the score when George Boughey somehow found a way over just after the hour for their sole 5 points.
Lucs wound up the last 10 minutes in full control, as they had been for most of the game, composed and showing at times some excellent handling, not least with their final try from Caleb Montgomery at the death. But this was after Jack Goodwin had also contributed with his touch down a few minutes earlier, converted by Randell (59-5). Montgomery’s try was superb as it involved Lucs moving the ball at pace, and with superb handling, across their back line to end what had been an excellent team performance.
Full Time Score
Luctonians RFC 66 – 5 Macclesfield RUFC
Luctonians will be confident on their travels next week when they make another long journey to Cornwall to play Redruth, whilst Macclesfield will lick their wounds and pick themselves up as they will entertain Cinderford.
