Luton lose to impressive Thurrock

Luton RFC made it ten losses in a row for the second time this season following their 58 – 10 defeat to a strong Thurrock side.
The result means that Luton stay rooted to the bottom of the London One North league table with relegation already confirmed.
Both teams began the game well, exchanging possession, but the hosts looked like they would score first, and they nearly did ten minutes in after Earl Gorman was set free but Tyler Chant made a brilliant last ditch try-saving tackle to prevent him from getting over.
Five minutes later, Luton slowly made progress down the field which lead to Rick Hobbs taking the ball into the opponent’s 22 and giving it to Casimir Abaka who got over to put Luton ahead with Hobbs kicking the extras.
Luton continued to push for another try but the home side defended well, until the visitors were awarded a penalty in the 27th minute about 35 yards from the posts which Hobbs narrowly missed.
Thurrock seemed to turn it on after the penalty and they spent a fair amount of time in Luton’s 22 trying to break them down but Luton held on well until Aidan Kenny was sin binned in the 32nd minute for hands in a ruck.
It didn’t take the hosts very long to take full advantage of the extra man as Bradleigh Retigan got over in the 35th minute. Luton then looked to switch off and conceded another try in the 36th minute, Tim Blundell was the scorer this time as well as kicking both conversions.
Just before half time, both teams notched a penalty through kicks from Hobbs and Blundell, making it 17 – 10 at the break.
The second half was definitely one for Luton to forget as Thurrock looked comfortable in the lead and eager to extend it, and it was the 44th minute that saw Najee Mundicha get over and Blundell convert.
Blundell continued his excellent kicking record for the game and scored another two penalties for his side before scoring a superb second try in the 66th minute and converting to make it 37 – 10.
The game was over by that point but the hosts wanted more and that is exactly happened in the 68th minute after Gorman got the ball out wide and sprinted over the line with ease with Blundell kicking the extras again.
Just two minutes later, Thurrock got over again through Grant Scott after some nice passing play between the hosts, Blundell converting to make it 51 – 10.
In the 78th minute, Rick Hobbs received a yellow card for kicking out before Thurrock went on to score a last minute try as Tom Pool easily made his way over the line, Blundell converting.
Luton hooker Ryan Sheppard blames fitness levels for the loss against Thurrock. He said: “I’d probably put the loss down to fitness and work rate, we played really well in the first half but in the second half it was a little bit slower, they got the win behind them and they ran away with it.
“We’ve definitely stepped it up a lot since being relegated, instead of trying to scrape a win, we’re going out there with nothing to lose, we’re working harder and we’re not giving up.
“I think after they scored the first try, it spread us wide and then the second one came so quick because everyone was tired from the first try after trying so hard to defend, so we were unable to keep up with the run of play.
“I think it’s just down to other teams taking advantage of the fact that we are unfit.”
Luton will host CS Rugby 1863 at Newlands Road next Saturday.