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WLS IT Solutions Lucsline 577 - 10th May 2022

Delayed Lucsline from last week as we just ran out of time unfortunately, but many reports below for you to get your teeth stuck into.

Firstly to say a massive congratulations to our RMS Colts for winning the North Midlands League and Cup double this season. The full league standings are still waiting to be finalised, after numerous cry-offs at the end of the season, but the boys added the North Mids Cup to the haul with a tight 15-13 victory over Ledbury in the final. It is the fifth time the lads have beaten their county rivals this season, all other occasions were by 10 points or more, but on this occasion they were made to sweat by an improved group. Well done to our player, Kieram, Joff and Carmen - an excellent season and all boding well again for the years to come.

Closer to home, the 1st XV were very impressive in one of those bloody great days at Mortimer Park. The sun shone, the WLS IT Solutions Hospitality Lunch was booming in a full clubhouse, and then the boys didn't give the Champions a sniff on the pitch. Hull were always going to struggle to find that competitive edge in the fixture, after winning the league the week before against their bitter rivals Hull Ionians, but they travelled to Mortimer Park with a side that contained just three changes to the one that started the week before. Unfortunately for them, they ran into a highly motivated group and again our lads showed if any side comes to Kingsland and is slightly off colour they will be in for a tough afternoon. The 24-7 win confirmed 8th place in National League 2 North, our first top half finish at this level since 2015/16. The 7 points conceded also confirmed this as the club's best ever defensive season at this standard, and the league points haul represented our 3rd best return ever. Not bad for a side that won one out of their first eight games! Nige Mee's photos from the game are available here, and WLS's blog on the day and their experience as new main sponsor at the club this season is available here.

 
  Team Pld W D L PF PA +/- TB LB Pts
1 Hull (C) 30 27 0 3 906 402 504 21 2 132
2 Sedgley Park 30 25 1 4 1112 457 655 22 4 128
3 Rotherham Titans 30 24 2 4 955 553 402 19 3 123
4 Stourbridge 29 21 0 8 1036 766 270 23 3 110
5 Fylde 30 21 1 8 1049 638 411 19 3 108
6 Hull Ionians 30 18 2 10 856 650 206 14 6 96
7 Tynedale 30 13 1 16 732 881 -149 16 5 75
8 Luctonians 30 14 0 16 608 529 79 8 9 74
9 Sheffield Tigers 30 13 0 17 649 744 -95 7 6 65
10 Loughborough Students 30 10 0 20 702 843 -141 13 10 63
11 Chester 30 12 1 17 645 803 -158 9 3 62
12 Wharfedale 30 11 1 18 625 823 -198 9 5 60
13 Bournville 30 8 1 21 743 1038 -295 12 6 52
14 Blaydon 30 7 0 23 599 1057 -458 10 4 42
15 Huddersfield 29 7 0 22 494 831 -337 7 6 41
16 Harrogate 30 3 0 27 402 1098 -696 4 3 19

In this the season where there was no relegation, ironically this is the one where we created the biggest gap to the trap door we have experienced at this level, the 32 points to Blaydon signifying what would normally have been an extreme form of comfort. Picking up some form of league points in all of our final 17 league games this campaign, showed the group's level of competitive edge, and the fact we never shipped more than 38 points in any of our 30 games this season shows that we were a tough obstacle for any opponent.

As we close the book on National League 2 North as a division, with the imminent restructure of next season coming, this gives an opportunity to reflect on our performances over the 295 games we have enjoyed in this division over the past 12 years and a chance for us to look back on our time in this Northern Division. We have loved many of our trips to the various parts of Northumbria, Yorkshire, Cumbria, Lancashire and Cheshire that we have travelled. Made many friends, particularly at Caldy, Tynedale and Chester. We have visited 39 different clubs during that time. We have picked up wins against 37 of those 39 sides in our time in this division. Of those 39 clubs, from next season two will be playing in the Championship (Caldy and Ampthill), three will be playing in National League 1 (Sale FC, Darlington Mowden Park and Hull), remarkably 19 will still be plying their trade at Level 4, whatever that may look like, 12 are in lower leagues, whilst three clubs sadly are in entirely different shape to what they were having been disbanded and started again in Birmingham Solihull, South Leicester and Rugby Lions.

We have seen odd happenings over the years - the extreme flooding in Corbridge that postponed our fixture against Tynedale in 2016, the posts literally falling down on our pack at Hinckley, two Home Walkovers against Sedgley Park and Huddersfield for them respectively not adhering to front row rules, and all sorts of weirdness at the end of the Rotherham game this season where a conversion was given, not given and then subsequently awarded, in spite of going wide of the posts!

Our lads have played against some big names of the game. Jason Robinson, Tevita Vaikona, Tom and Ben Curry, Sean Long and Jacob Umaga to name a few. Mortimer Park has played host to 80 Luctonian victories, of which the 75-0 beating of Harrogate this season was the widest margin we have seen. Below is a summary of each season's league performance. To the North we have enjoyed our time! To the South West, we look forward to seeing you soon!

 
Season Pos Pld W D L PF PA +/- TB LB Pts
2010/11 9 30 14 1 15 754 693 61 11 10 74
2011/12 5 30 19 0 11 694 557 137 9 4 89
2012/13 8 30 13 1 16 733 703 30 15 4 73
2013/14 10 30 14 0 16 615 816 -201 8 5 69
2014/15 13 30 11 1 18 599 766 -167 10 5 61
2015/16 6 30 15 2 13 661 714 -53 11 4 79
2016/17 12 30 9 0 21 640 812 -172 11 8 56
2017/18 14 30 9 0 21 640 829 -189 8 9 53
2019/20* 13 25 9 1 15 496 609 -113 8 8 65
2021/22 8 30 14 0 16 608 529 79 8 9 74
TOTAL/AVERAGE 10 295 127 6 162 6440 7028 -588 99 66 69.3

 
If you would like Twickenham tickets for the England v Argentina or England v Japan games this coming Autumn, please get in touch with Charlotte - events@luctonians.co.uk and we should be able to access these. Further England tickets will be available to members via the normal ballot process which will open later in the summer. A reminder that access to International Tickets is available for those members who take out annual Mini and Junior rugby memberships, Senior Rugby Player memberships or Vice President memberships.

Right, little time for other business but below amongst other bits you will see an appeal from the cricket section for more players, if you would like to come down and swing the arm or the bat get in touch.

Lucsline will take a little sabbatical for a few weeks now but will be back alive again in June. A big thank you to all supporters, sponsors, players and volunteers who have made this season possible - it has been a blast!
Smithy


 

Luctonians 1st XV 24-7 Hull
 
Luctonians fully deserved this victory over the league champions who came looking to consolidate their position at top of the league. But they came up against a home side who have been defensively as good as anyone in the league and determined to go out with a winning result against the champions.
 
Lucs throughout were superb in all facets of the game and apart from losing a couple of scrums technically were excellent.
 
Giles Morell scored first for the home side when he finished a break from hooker Ben Link and his side step took him over. Tom Jones converting for a 7-0 lead after 11 minutes.
 
Hull looked composed on the ball but had struggled to make any headway against the Ryan Watkins coached home side, and they were fortunate when a kick through bounced kindly for wing Michael Adlard to truck over, Simon Humberstone levelling the scores at 7-7.
 
Josh Watkins break on 20 minutes put Morell over again after 20 minutes only for his pass to have been adjudged as forward. Hull were rattled and Cameron Curry saw yellow for a foul play infringement, before the unfortunate Reece Deans kick, when under pressure, was driven straight at Tom Smith of Lucs. He used his football skills to great effect as he trapped the ball, collected it on half way and ran in un-challenged to put the home side back in front, Tom Jones again immaculate from the tee for a 14-7 lead which they well deserved at oranges.
 
Lucs were on fire second half and their tackling prowess was exemplified by scrum half Josh Nott from the restart when he downed the Hull ball receiver to create turnover ball. Lucs continued to press and they kept Hull deep in their own half and it was no surprise when man of the match Sam Jones broke off the side of a driving maul to stretch out and touch down to put the home side, with Tom Jones again converting into a 21-7 lead.
 
Hull were on the ropes and Michael Dias saw yellow as their discipline started to go, and Lucs took full advantage when Tom Jones added the resulting penalty to his tally for the final score after 64 minutes of 24-7.
 
The home side roared on by their vociferous home support held out gallantly as Hull, as is befitting the league champions, kept probing and looking to get back in the game to the death. But the defiant home side kept them out to the end, not before Hull’s Cam Curry received a red card for a shoulder to the head just before the final whistle.
 
North Herefordshire side Luctonians having had one of their best ever seasons and can be proud of their achievements being one of the few sides to have beaten and regularly taken points off the top 6 sides.
 
Hull of course are destined for National League One, while Luctonians will look forward to the re-organised league two structure without the long travelling miles to the North of England replaced by visits to the South West of the country.
 
Teams: Luctonians: Josh Watkins; James Wheeler; Rob Aikman; Ben Owen; Giles Morell; Tom Jones; Josh Nott : Brad Smith ; Ben Link; Joe White © ; Tom Smith; Owien Harriott-Davis; Sam Jones; Seb Robinson; Aiden Cheshire
Replacements: Ben Murphy; Connor Deignan; Cheick Kone; Will Pearson; Owen Randell
 
Hull: Reece Dean; Michael Adlard; Duel Trueman; Stephen Johnson; Keane Naylor; Simon Humberstone; Sam Crane : Tipiloma Kivalu; Michael Jobling; Benjamin Boothman; Liam Regardsoe; Cameron Curry ; Gregory Jones ; Laurence Cowen; William Hall
Replacements: Daniel Evans; Isoefo Taunei Turaga; Latu Makaafi; Jamie Major; Michael Dias
 
Match Reporter: Geoff Vickress



Cricket Players Wanted
Luctonians cricket section are looking for cricketers of all abilities whether they’ve played before years ago or complete novices. Contact Pete Griffiths on 07415855531 alternatively they are welcome to just turn up to senior training night Thursday 19:00 - 20:30.


Lucs U16s 15 - 10 Stourbridge

Luctonians beat Stourbridge 15-10 with a gritty and well organised performance to win the North Midlands u16 Cup Final at Newport RFC.
 
The first 20 minutes was all about hard running ball carriers and fearless tackling. Stourbridge tried to use the wind for a tactical advantage but found Lucs back three well up to the task. As the half developed Stourbridge were able to create overlaps out wide but Luctonians cover defence hauled down the ball carriers before they could release their pacey wings.  In the 25th minute Stourbridge had their best chance of the half when they chipped the ball into the 22m and caught the defence flat. As the ball rolled over the line Gus Wixey managed to beat the chasers to the touchdown.
 
On 28 minutes Charlie Bemand missed a difficult penalty at goal into the wind, but it was a mesmeric run by Fullback Freddie Norman that broke the deadlock on the half hour. Fielding another Stourbridge kick over the top, Norman picked up the ball just inside his 10m line and accelerated at the chasers. On evading the initial tacklers he made the most of a disorganised defence and weaved his way through the opposition to touch down under the posts. A fantastic piece of individual skill to which Bemand added the conversion.
 
Stourbridge dominated the first 20 minutes of the second half and capitalised on a succession of Luctonians penalties with two unconverted tries through the forwards. Luctonians responded with a Bemand penalty. At 10-10 and with 15 minutes left to play it was Lucs who took the initiative and focussed on territory. Charlie Bemand used the wind wisely and pinned Stourbridge back in their 22m with a series of well placed kicks. Under pressure Stourbridge now began to give the penalties away and it was from a Lucs lineout that the forwards drove in field to create space on the blindside for Archie Davies to score in the corner. From this point on Stourbridge struggled to exert any territorial pressure and were lucky when the referee denied Gus Wixey a try, despite clearly lying on the ball over the line.
 
This win was the culmination of a 10 year journey for this squad and contained 12 players who originally signed up at u6.
Norm 



Luctonians RMS Colts 15 - 13 Ledbury

Luctonians kicked off and started the game fast, strong carries and clean ball at the break down led to an early shot at goal that was just slightly off target. The game settled down and Ledbury looked dangerous looking to keep the ball in play at every opportunity catching the Lucs players out. When Lucs worked out the attack plan from Ledbury the pack started bashing their way forward and some hard lines by the backs created an opportunity for Will Priday who found a hole and barged his way over for the first score of the final.
 
Ledbury responded with a quick couple of taps and their 9 Iolo Bubb sniped his way over after a third penalty was taken quickly near the Lucs try line.
 
Gethin Davies replied with a long range effort penalty after Ledbury infringed at the breakdown after some great pressure from Arthur Rider & Charlie Price.
 
After some adventurous play from the lucs backs that continued to see them run from deep the boys from Mortimer Park struggled to find any space in the width and decided to challenge Ledbury up the middle. Ledbury took this challenge head on and heroically knocked each charge back. With this determined defence Ledbury earned them selves a penalty which they kicked and tied the game just before the break.  (8-8)
 
The second half started  again strongly for Lucs and they earned a penalty close to the line, with the catch and drive proving successful the scene was set for another attack on the Ledbury line, but out of nowhere the ball was tapped and they hit up under the Ledbury posts, catching both teams by surprise Ledbury reacted sharply and won a penalty at the resulting breakdown to clear their lines once again. 
 
Lucs hit back and started playing to their usual structure in attack, seeing forwards tipping the ball on into space which caused Ledbury issues. The attack stretched Ledbury and after another half break the ball was recycled and moved wide into space for Matt Price to go over in the corner. 
Gethin Davies hit a fantastic kick to add the extra 2 and take lucs 7 points clear. 
 
Time was running out and Ledbury were playing like a team who knew this, some great offloads put Jake Ashley away, he stood the last defender up and went for the corner, the defence worked hard and the dive for the line was… after lengthy consultation with the AR judged to be successful. With a kick into the wind from the touch line Ben Deards came in inches of adding the extra two. (15-13 to Lucs.)
 
With only minutes remaining lucs kicked deep and pressured Ledbury to clear, the resulting catch and drive was strong from lucs but Ledbury again turned the ball over and had one last chance, they attacked from deep and went for a chip and chase the ball clipped the line, the whistle went and Lucs retained the cup. The win sees Luctonians  taking the trophy back to Mortimer Park for the third time in a row...
 
Ledbury were the toughest of challenges and will hold their heads high winning The Division Two Colts league and making the Cup final but the spoils go to lucs with a league and cup double to finish off a strong season. 
Great work boys - Kieram, Joff, Carmen and the whole of Lucs are proud of your efforts this year.
Kieram

The ECRFU Men’s U18 Cup Final: Hereford Sixth Form College v USP Seevic.
 
Hereford Sixth Form College (team containing several Luctonians) took on USP Storm in the final of the inaugural ECRFU U18 Men’s Cup. The game was hosted by Walsall RFC and was played on a new RFC 365 all-weather pitch.
 
At the start both teams showed early nerves with unforced errors not allowing either team to control territory or possession. USP got off to a strong start with their larger and more powerful pack.

Hereford started the second half strongly and with some excellent carries resulting in Hereford scoring a try giving them a 10 – 8 lead. With just 14 minutes remaining USP regained the lead with a successful penalty.  Hereford were awarded a late penalty following a period of pressure which took the score to 13 – 11 in favour of Hereford.
 
As the clock went into the red Hereford were awarded a penalty which enabling them to end the game and become the first winners of the ECRFU U18 Cup in a fantastic close encounter 13 – 11.
 
Thanks go to both Hereford Sixth Form and USP Seevic players and coaching staff for providing such a close and exciting game which was enjoyed by all in attendance at Walsall and those watching the livestream.

 
 

The content included in Lucsline does not necessarily represent the views of Luctonians Sports Club Ltd, and is the responsibility of the editor or contributors of those specific pieces.

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