Luton too strong for Habers

Luton’s free flowing rugby was too much for a spirited Haberdashers side in dreadful conditions which saw a stoppage in play mid way through the second half as the players took cover from the hailstorm.

The hosts got off to the perfect start when Chris Talanoa scored his first try for the club when he had a free run to the try line as the visitors defence struggled to re-group following an initial brake from Tom Wilmore.

The visitors got on the scoreboard in the 9th minute through a Brian Butterwick penalty after Luton were penalised for not releasing in the tackle.

However it didn’t take long for Luton to extend their lead when just two minutes later Talanoa was in for his second, as he brushed off some weak defence to touch down next to the post, Rik Hobbs was unsuccessful again with the conversion.

Luton were in again in the 21st minute when Jake Hobbs found himself in open space to race in from 20 meters out, R.Hobbs successful with the conversion.

The hosts could have extended their lead further in the 25th minute but Chris Davis spilled the ball with the try line begging. Nevertheless they didn’t have to wait long to add to the score sheet as Ben Murphy crossed out wide after a strong driving maul got them close to the visitors line, R.Hobbs successful with the conversion to take the score to 24-3 at the half time break.

It was Old Haberdashers who got off to the better start to the second half as Butterwick added two successful penalties inside four minutes but this was the only joy for the visitors as Luton’s skill and fitness proved pivotal as they ran away with the game during the second half.

Dave Brennan crossed for the first of five second half tries after some good work from Mark Tindall created room for Michael Weston who fended off a few defenders before feeding Brennan to score out wide, J.Hobbs unsuccessful with the extras.

Ryan Staff was the next to touch down as the big back rower crashed through the visitors initial defensive line before racing 40 meters to score under the post, Talanoa successful with the easy conversion to take the score to 36-9 with 25 minutes to play.

Luton were running riot now and went in again three minutes later when centre Steve Ellis cut through the defensive line before feeding Wilmore to touch down out wide, Talanoa successful with the extras as an horrendous hailstorm forced a break in the game as the players took cover.

As the players returned to the pitch, it was Luton who continued where they left off when Davis pushed off some weak defence to break through before feeding Weston who was too fast for the cover the defence as he scored under the post, Talanoa added the extras to bring up the 50 points for the home side.

Weston was in again three minutes later when he proved to too strong and quick for a tired Old Haberdashers side, when he pushed off some more weak defence before stepping and outpacing the full back to score in the corner, J.Hobbs unsuccessful with the conversion to take the final score to 55-9 Luton.

Luton Team: Mark Tindall, Ben Murphy, Dwayne Duffy (Jack Elborn 40), Pat Nelly, Karl Roddell (Tom Albone 50), Ryan Staff, Michael Weston, Jack Elston, Tom Mahendran, Rik Hobbs (Dave Brennan 40), Chris Talanoa, Steve Ellis, Jake Hobbs, Chris Davis, Tom Wilmore.
T: Talanoa (2), J.Hobbs, Murphy, Brennan, Staff, Wilmore, Weston (2). C: R.Hobbs (2), Talanoa (3)

Old Haberdashers Team: Alex Watton, Joe Lawrence, Andrew Sanderson (Mike Marsden 38), Shaun Haque, Simon Wallis, Matt Hall-Turner, Matt Lowcock, Bobby Forrest (Andrew Harris 40), Robbie Sloan, George Clayton (Mark Warburton 65), Simon Jones, Harry Briffitt, Steve Roberts, Scott Chatterton, Brian Butterwick.
P: Butterwick (3)

Referee: Paul Rogers

Luton Man of Match: Chris Talanoa. Scored his first tries for Luton and had a hand in most things Luton created.