LUCTONIANS 17 v DMPRFC 6

Although the overall distance covered to fulfil this fixture was in the region of 470 miles, the decision to travel the day before was meant to negate tiredness etc. , however, DMPRFC looked jaded as they put in a poor display against a hard-working Luctonians team.

Perhaps Luctonians supporters had not seen this result coming after major internal upheaval during the week, but they thoroughly deserved their win on a pitch that was certainly heavy in places.

There was an uneasy calmness about the visitors as they took to the field and when proceedings began, even though the home side were ‘buzzing around the paddock’, DMPRFC looked to be taking everything in their stride.

Even when a mistake at the back of a 5-metre defensive scrum was capitalised on by Luctonians for their first try, DMPRFC looked poised to ‘crank it up’ at any time. The loss of possession at the base of the scrum allowed a turnover in favour of the home side who simply whisked the ball along the backs to outflank the DMPRFC defence for the opening points (5 – 0). The conversion from wide out was a good one and another two points added (7 – 0).

There were glimpses that the visiting back line were about to ignite, fed by scrum half Zylon McGAFFIN and the ‘blue touch paper’ was applied on occasions by centre Cameron MITCHELL, but unfortunately there were no fireworks.

The pitch was restrictive in places and to say that the visitors were ‘stuck in the mud’ would not be fair to Luctonians, who were similarly hampered, but seemed to be used to such conditions and weathered them more appropriately.

Centre Tom HODGSON slotted a penalty midway through the first half, when the home side had failed to release a tackle player 30 yards out (7 – 3).

In a pretty uneventful first half, the arrears were again reduced by a Tom HODGSON penalty from a similar distance, as Luctonians had strayed offside (7 – 6).

A lot of aimless midfield kicks were exchanged until oranges and the decent, expectant crowd were filled with hope for better after the break.

DMPRFC did try to burst into life in the second half, but were always contained by the home side who increased in confidence as the match progressed and added another converted try (14 – 6), as the visitors just could not produce any signs of the form that has taken them into the bronze medal position in the league.

As both teams rang the changes, not even the influx of fresh players could enliven the visitors and when Luctonians managed to add a penalty to their tally (17 – 6) which brought the final whistle, the jubilation shown by the home side and their supporters, was nearly drowned by the sheer sense disappointment felt by DMPRFC and their travelling contingent.

All credit to Luctonians, they deserved their victory and DMPRFC off the field connections were warmly received by Luctonians officials, with an excellent pre-match dinner and entertainment provided in the form of a top drawer talk and comedy routine by ex- Ireland international prop Gary HALPIN, who still looks as if he keeps himself in good, physical shape.