Dudley Kingswinford Replay

DUDLEY KINGSWINFORD 5 – LUCTONIANS 23

13th October 2007

Luctonians returned to Dudley Kingswinford to replay the Midlands One match they had won by 34 points to 7 two weeks ago and this time they came away with a 23 points to 5 success. Replicating the original 27 point margin of victory was never going to be easy and DK made it as difficult as possible with a committed performance.

Lucs started poorly and DK centre Tom Bissell should have put his side into the lead with a second minute penalty but his kick drifted wide. DK continued to get the better of the opening exchanges but in the ninth minute Lucs’ centre Cameron Hewitt slipped a tackle in midfield and the support was up for hooker Nick Byron to cross half way out. Fly half Brett Prior’s conversion was wide but Lucs had taken an early lead somewhat against the run of play.

The success saw Lucs start to assume some shape and purpose. Their forwards began to take control and from lineout possession they drove 20 metres for Byron to get his second touch down, Prior again failing to add the extra points. The Lucs pack was giving the home forwards a testing time at the set scrummages and DK number eight Layton Wilkinson was obliged to call on all his experience to tidy up possession from a retreating pack. Lucs failed to add to their lead before half time however and turned around 10 points ahead but victory by no means assured.

Prior finally found his range in the second half with a twelfth minute penalty but Lucs were continuing to kick away ball to DK full back Warren Port who was happy to return it with interest or initiate a counter attack. The DK backs looked dangerous and when Prior broke through and threw a pass based more on optimism than intent they snapped up the loose ball and swept the length of the field for wing Ian Gowland to cross in the corner. Prior reclaimed three of those points in the 37th minute with a dropped goal that just had the legs to corkscrew over and at the final whistle following Lucs’ forward pressure he slipped through for a converted try.

Lucs deserved their victory but the addition of 10 late points flattered them somewhat. This was perhaps Lucs’ least convincing performance to date but to underperform and still come away with the victory suggests a team increasingly confident in its own ability.

Huw Davies