Peterborough 26th January

Luctonians 12 - 15 Peterborough

A depleted Luctonians team crashed to a third consecutive league defeat last weekend when they were pipped 15-12 by Peterborough. Still suffering a crippling shortage of front-rowers, the Kingsland Club were also forced to make several late changes after a number of players made themselves unavailable. Fairing better in the opening exchanges, Lucs looked to settle theirnerves with an early penalty but scrum-half Chris James' long-range effort dropped just short. But Peterborough came back and took the lead with a penalty in the 7th minute through outside-half Jason O'Toole after Lucs were caught coming in from the side at the breakdown. The visitors worked themselves back into the game and after a period of sustained possession centre Alex Smith found a hole in the home defence to cross out wide for an unconverted score. But Lucs' relief was short lived as flanker Henry Lort suffered a damaged cheekbone and was forced off the field to be replaced by Bahamian international Dan Woodside. The home side capitalised just before the break when O'Toole crossed wide out following some sustained forward pressure although he was unable to convert.

Lucs suffered yet another blow when centre Richard Henwood was forced off with a groin injury meaning the last remaining substitute, flanker, Ben James, took up an unfamiliar position on the wing after a reshuffle in the backline. James saw another long-range penalty attempt just drop short before the visitors took the lead when, following some controlled phase play, Smith burst over for his second score. James converted for a narrow 12-8 lead. Despite their makeshift appearance Lucs appeared to have the game under control and looked like closing Peterborough out. However, disaster struck when ever-present full-back Charlie Meredith had to leave the field after suffering several fractured ribs and ligament damage in a tackle. Down to 14 men and with a line-up barely recognisable from earlier in the season, Lucs fought bravely to keep their lead until the 75th minute when winger Andrew Clushlegus took advantage of the inevitable overlap to score in the corner. O'Toole stepped up slotted the touchline conversion to seal the pointsfor the league strugglers.

This weekend Lucs will host Solihull in the Quarter-Final of the NorthMidlands Cup.The Mortimer Park men will be keen to get one over on their Birmingham-based rivals, who dispatched them at the semi-final stage last season on their way to the final where they defeated Malvern.