Bonus point win in ill tempered encounter

This was Luton’s fourth consecutive victory as they overcame a spirited home side, with a gutsy performance.

Heading into the fixture, the home team had secured victory last weekend away to Ipswich, (7-31) whereas the visitors received the news of their passage to the East Midlands Cup final, due to Huntingdon forfeiting the game. Nonetheless, Thurrock would surely be out for revenge following a late loss, 31-28 at Newlands Road earlier in the season.

The opening ten minutes of the contest offered little, as both sides sized each other up. The first points of the half fell to the away side as Thurrock’s defence was breached by Logan Wendt who went over the white wash following great skill from Jonathan Wright. Rick Hobbs’ kicking boots were laced up as his conversion stretched Luton’s lead to 0-7.

Luton’s ceded possession in the 16th minute, thus enabling Thurrock to get back into the game through the boot of full back Jake Barrad who scored a penalty for a 3-7 score line. At that juncture, the match became a kicking contest, with both sides looking to exploit each other from line outs. However, in the 24th minute, Tabo Maderi put on the turbo charges and showed Thurrock’s despairing defence a clean pair of heels before going over the line for his first try of the afternoon. Rick Hobbs followed up with a conversion.

Luton’s margin was reduced on the half hour mark, with Thurrock winning a penalty that was duly dispatched by Jake Barrad, and this galvanised the home team, as a minute later in the ensuring frenzy, James Millson scored from a driving maul. Barrad missed the consequent conversion.

The away team went into the interval leading 11-14. After the break Stuart Tomkinson replaced Tyrone Ashton and in the 42nd minute his freshness was evident as he muscled his way through to score a try giving Paul Allen’s side an 11-19 lead. Rick Hobbs missed the resulting kick.

In the 50th minute Luton’s second row, Tom Albone returning from a long-term ligament injury, replaced Garry Jahn and Thurrock's Barrad dispatched another penalty.

On the hour mark came the game's main talking point, as the referee sent two Luton players to the sin-bin along with one for Thurrock. Luton’s Tomkinson was given his cooling orders after getting into a heated confrontation with Thurrock's Spremulli, while Edwards saw yellow, as the referee interpreted his interception of the ball of as deliberate offside.

In the 63rd minute, a melee of Thurock players over the try line made it impossible to tell who got the final touch as they drew level at 19-19, but Barrad’s kicking let him down this time.

However it was Tabo Maderi’s searing pace in the 68th minute, that enabled him to pierce a tired looking Thurrock defence to claim the winning try of the game.

This latest victory ensured that Luton’s surge continues, as they won their fourth successive match, and it leaves them in seventh, and Thurrock are in 11th spot in the fourteen-team league.

Match Reporter
Nigel Makale