Luctonians 59 v 28 Exeter Uni
Luctonians RFC v Exeter University RFC
Saturday 4th March – Mortimer Park
Match Reporter – Geoff Vickress
A try fest day at Luctonians, as the home side powered past a more than useful Exeter University side who more than contributed to an entertaining game at Mortimer Park.
The home side scored from the start when the visitors knocked-on from the kick-off, and from quick scrum ball moved the ball wide to wing Charlie Grimes to dot down with 1 minute on the clock.
Their early 5-0 lead was increased further when Lucs’ Rob Aikman crashed through on 7 minutes, again following some swift passing by the home side, and when scrum half Josh Nott swivelled over from a scrum drive on the dead ball line, Tom Jones converting. The home side were looking impressive, leading 17-0 with only 12 minutes on the clock.
Exeter however was soon back in the game when their elusive 9, Chris Ballard, darted through the home defence only a minute later; Harvey Graham converting to reduce the deficit (17-7). However, Lucs’ power from the set piece was beginning to have rewards and, after only 17 minutes, hooker Jack Small was driven over; Tom Jones converting for the home side to lead 24-7.
The game turned on its head however when, after dominating for the first 20 minutes, Lucs were made to take note of the pace and direct running of their opponents. Exeter were spurred into life, and went into half time only 3 points behind. A penalty try was awarded to the University side on 23 minutes; wing Charlie Grimes yellow carded for a high tackle in the red zone when the dangerous Ed Volley ran through to touch down. With Graham converting just before half time, to send the teams in at 24-21, it looked all to play for in the second half.
HALF TIME SCORE
Luctonians RFC 24 v 21 Exeter University RFC
We can only speculate on what was in Lucs half time tea, but they came out second half and powered their way past the University side.
From a driving maul, hooker Jack Small trundled over almost from the restart and, after having missed his first two kicks at goal, Tom Jones converted for what would be his third conversion (31-21). And, when Smalls replacement, Ben Link, was similarly driven over at the back of a maul ten minutes later, the home side lead 38-21.
Lucs were now controlling the game and, through their set piece play, they put the game to bed when home captain Joe White dotted down on the hour, again from a maul (45-21).
Exeter’s Conor Manzi raced through to take a neat pass from prop Elliot Young on a break for their consolation points (45-28). But Lucs’ power-house, and Man of the Match, Owien Harriott-Davis, was giving the opposition serious issues with his pace and strength and it was from his endeavours that the home side created the penalty that lead to Ben Link getting the opportunity to again touch down for a half century of points (52-28).
They weren’t finished though, as Sam Hayler, again from a driving maul, scored his first Lucs try near the end, for the home side’s ninth try of what had been a spectacular afternoon of entertaining rugby. (59-28)
Lucs, now up to the lofty heights of fifth in the league, were elated to finish the second half with some aplomb and send their visitors home with a losing bonus point.
FULL TIME SCORE
Luctonians RFC 59 v 28 Exeter University RFC
SCORERS
Luctonians
Tries: Grimes (1), Aikman (7), Nott (11), Small (17, 44), Link (54, 66), White (60), Hayler (75)
Conv: Jones (12, 18, 45, 55, 61, 67, 76)
Exeter University
Tries: Ballard (13), Penalty (23), Volley (36), Manzi (62)
Conv: Graham (14, 37, 64)
STAR MAN
Owien Harriott-Davis
Luctonians
TEAMS
Luctonians
Watkins, Grimes, Aikman, Bengry, Wheeler, Jones, Nott; Deignan, Small, White ©, Whiteman, Harriott-Davis, Smith, Benson, Cheshire
Replacements: Powell, Link, Hayler, Robinson, Parkes
Exeter University
Bliss, Hughes, Power, Volley, Searle, Graham, Ballard; Freeman, Young, Alexander, Manzi, Langdon, Stanley, Gordon, Grubb
Replacements: Nehatta, Rolls, Dwan, Smears, Park
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