Scunthorpe 29th March

Luctonians 24 - 0 Scunthorpe

LUCTONIANS' challenge for a play-off spot and possible promotion to the national leagues remains on course after their convincing 24-0 winover Scunthorpe on Saturday.

The result keeps them in third position in Midlands 1, one point behind Broadstreet, who retained their narrow lead thanks to a slender 7-0 home win over Bedford Athletic. Playing in atrocious conditions, Lucs were forced to play up hill but with the considerable wind at their backs. The visitors started with intent from the kick-off forcing the homeside back thanks to some sustained forward pressure. Lucs were awarded a penalty and opted to kick for touch and after a strong forward drive, they powered their way over the line from a rolling maul to allow second row Chris Jaques to emerge and claim the unconverted score. Scunthorpe, who are battling against relegation, fought back but could not find a way through the rock-like Luctonians defence. The visitors regrouped, and after more forward pressure, Number 8 Paul Hulland burst over. Scrum-half Chris James added the conversion for a 12-0 lead. A powerful Luctonians scrum was the platform for the next try and allowed James to find centre Cameron Hewitt in space who crossed out wide. James could not convert but Lucs still held a commanding 17-0 lead at the break.

The game continued in much the same vein after the restart with the visitors exerting more and more pressure on the home defence. And so Lucs' next score had an air or inevitability about it when, after a series of pick and drives, prop Steve Jaques powered his way over. James converted to give his side a 24-0 advantage. Scunthorpe rallied but again found their attacks stifled by a watertight Lucs defence, which to their credit, had only conceded one kickable penalty.

Next week Lucs face Malvern in the Semi-Final of the North MidlandsCup before hosting Shropshire rivals Newport in the league the following week. The Mortimer Park men will be keen to keep up the pressure on Broadstreet who will have a difficult fixture against South Leicester on April 12.