Luton trounce Tabard to keep pace with leaders

Luton were too strong for the hosts as they ran in 10 unanswered tries in a one-sided affair which saw four yellow cards.

The visitors controlled the whole game with their power and pace but it was Tabard who had the first chance to get on the scoreboard, but Jack Reilly missed a simple penalty after Luton were penalised for entering the ruck from the side.

Both teams were down to 14 men by the 14th minute as Doug Fluker and Cameron O’Connor were both harshly shown yellow cards for high tackles.

It was Luton that responded the better to being a man down as Wilmore scored the first try of the match. Some good hands sent the winger racing down the wing before he kicked it over the full back's head to gather and score in the corner in the 15th minute.

Luton were in again three minutes later through Jake Hobbs, who spotted space behind the Tabard defensive line to put a kick through and score under the sticks. Chris Talanoa added the conversion to give Luton a 12 point lead.

Tabard closed the gap in the 22 minute through a Reilly penalty but it was all one-way traffic from this point as Luton’s pace and power proved too much for the hosts.

Tom Mahendran grabbed Luton’s third try after some good hands sent Hobbs through before he fed Mahendran to squeeze over in the corner in the 24th minute.

Luton continued to look threatening every time they had the ball but they were unable to add to their score until the 36th minute when Wilmore got his second of the match after gathering a Robbie Smith kick to score in the corner.

Wilmore was in for his hat-trick with the last play of the half with a carbon copy of his second try as he chased after a kick to touch down in the corner. Talanoa added the conversion to give Luton a 29-3 lead at the break.

Luton started the second half as they finished the first, in complete control as they looked threatening every time they touched the ball. They added to the scoreboard in the 50th minute through Michael Weston who supported another Hobbs break to score under the post, Talanoa added the extras.

The visitor’s went close to scoring a few more times but some good scramble defence from Tabard kept Luton at bay until the 60th minute when Mahendran scored his second of the game, Talanoa converted.

Luton didn’t have to wait long until they crossed again when Weston picked up a loose ball to race 60m to score under the post, Talanoa converted to take the score to 50-3.

Both teams were back down to 14 men again after Craig South and Jo Jacobs was both sin-binned for infringement in the ruck and a late tackle respectively in the 67th minute.

It took Luton just another five minutes to add another try as some good hands from Mark Tindall and Hobbs created room for Adam Harris to score a converted try.

The visitors weren’t finished there as they scored with the last play of the game through Wilmore who finished off a good break down centre field by Talanoa. Talanoa missed the conversion to take the final score to 62-3 Luton.

Luton team: Sam Pacey (Tom Albone 57), Ben Murphy, Marc Tindall (Jack Elborn 40), Pat Nelly (Craig South 31) Karl Rodell, Jack Elston, Adam Harris, Michael Weston, Robbie Smith, Chris Talanoa, Doug Fluker, Steve Ellis, Jake Hobbs, Tom Wilmore, Tom Mahendran.
T: Wilmore 4, Hobbs, Mahendran 2, Weston 2, Harris. C: Talanoa 6.

Tabard team: Bill Lake, Jamie Hancock, Jack Gridlestone (Wilf Lake 56), Sam Barrow, Jo Jacobs, Cameron O’Connor, Scott Stoba (Sam Norris 57), Aaron Priscott, Liam Kenny, Jack Reilly (Dan Calnan 40), Johnny Aguila, Gerald Arasa, Joe Calnan, Tom King, Elliot Hurrell.
P: Reilly.

Referee: Tim Allatt

Luton Man of Match: Tom Wilmore. Scored 4 tries in a comprehensive win for Luton to keep them in touch at top of table.