LUCS 20 – 22 CINDERFORD

VISITORS SLOT OVER IN FINAL PLAY

Luctonians RFC vs Cinderford RFC
Saturday 21st December 2024 – Mortimer Park
Match Report by Geoff Vickress

A compelling and superbly competitive game of rugby, played under very difficult conditions with blustery winds and occasional heavy rainstorms, gave the big crowd at Mortimer Park an entertaining pre- Christmas match up. The result going the way of Cinderford, who scraped home in the gathering gloom to gain revenge for their earlier loss at home to Luctonians earlier in the season.

Lucs started superbly, playing into the wind, when returning flanker Caleb Montgomery was put clear through by full back Josh Watkins to dot down under the posts after only a couple of minutes. Jack Park converting to give the home side an early advantage of 7-0.

Cinderford however showed their resolve, taking advantage of Lucs high penalty count with excellent kicking to their opponents 22. And they were rewarded when No7 Dan Broady stole over from a close-in driving maul to reduce the deficit to 7-5 with the conversion being missed.

Both sides engaged in a dog fight with no quarter given, and both were guilty of penalty misdemeanours, Lucs’ high penalty count ultimately cost them, when Montgomery was given a yellow for a line out infringement after 24minutes. Cinderford took advantage of the numbers, and the swift feet of centre William Baldwin saw him skip through Lucs’ back line to give them the lead, with Mcmahon converting to lead 7-12.

Lucs were further reduced in numbers when prop Brad Smith was also carded, again for a technical infringement, this time in the maul, but Cinderford couldn’t capitalise and were penalised and warned for their behaviour, allowing Lucs No 10 Jack Park to slot over, and the teams went in at half time with the away side 2 points to the good.

Half Time Score
Luctonians RFC 10 – 12 Cinderford RFC

Lucs were now in ascendancy and, now playing with the wind at their backs and roared on by the vocal home support, it was no surprise when Captain Ben Link, added to his prolific scoring achievements when he dashed over from the back of another driving maul, this to equal the club’s scoring record of tries at National League level. Jack Park converted and the home side led 17-12 and looked good value for the score.

When McMahon saw yellow for Cinderford on 50 minutes, Park kicking the resulting penalty to increase the lead to 20-12, it looked odds-on for a home victory. However, Cinderford are built of stern resolve and their experience from the higher level started to show as they dug-out a result from nowhere.

The home side blew opportunities to add to their advantage, and Cinderford penalised them when Starman Baldwin stole through the black and white ranks just on the hour; Greenman converting to get them back in the game and in with a shout at 20-19.

However, the home side’s indiscipline let them down all too often when they had opportunities to pressurise their opponent’s line, and Cinderford were in no mood to go home without the points as they eventually carved out an opportunity to get within kicking distance of Lucs posts, when the home side were again penalised on their 22, directly in front of the posts. This allowed Greenman to easily slot over for a 20-22 result as the clock ran its course.

Full Time Score
Luctonians RFC 20 – 22 Cinderford RFC

Lucs will look to pick themselves up with a trip to Clifton early in the New Year with Cinderford looking to keep the pressure on Cambourne when they entertain Hinckley.

Star Man
William Baldwin
Cinderford

Luctonians Man of the Match
Joe White

On our Facebook page, you can check out the Live scoreline with goal-line video footage of the Lucs tries and a selection of match pics by Andrew Hargraves. Shortly, a Grandstand view of the Lucs tries will also be appearing.

Picture Credit – Andrew Hargraves. Luctonians