The greater physicality of Peterborough told in the second half as Luton gifted them with both territory and possession through some simple errors and penalties.

The game got off to a frantic start as Luton opened up an early lead through a Rik Hobbs penalty after a break down field from center Steve Ellis earned Luton the penalty in the third minute.

Luton extended their lead four minutes later when a kick through by R.Hobbs was spilled by Vernon Horne, which allowed fullback Tom Mahendren to pick up and cross in the corner for an unconverted try. However in scoring the fullback injured his hamstring and had to go off.

Peterborough had looked to have responded straight away as they re-gathered their own restart before creating the overlap for winger, Rudie Van Der Merwe to touch down in the corner but a superb cover tackle by his opposite number, Chris Davis forced him into touch inches before the line.

However it did not take the Lions long to get on the scoreboard as Luton gifted them territory through a penalty and the visitors took full advantage as number 8, Saad Sait forced his way over from close range. Duncan Low added the conversion to take the score to 8-7 with 12 minutes on the clock.

The game continued to be played at a hectic pace as both teams looked to capitalise on each other’s mistakes but both teams were unable to add to their score as R.Hobbs and Low missed simple penalties.

Peterborough finally took the lead in the 34th minute when Low added a penalty from 40m out after Luton were penalised for not releasing.
Luton had the chance to take a lead into the half time break but R.Hobbs pushed the penalty just wide of the posts to keep the score at 10-8 at the break.

The second half was a completely different tale from the first as Peterborough controlled every aspect of the game, in thanks to ill-discipline from Luton.

Peterborough extended their lead inside two minutes of the half through another Low penalty after Luton were penalised for not releasing in the tackle after a good run from Tom Laws.

Luton put pressure on themselves straight from the restart as the kick off sailed out of play before five consecutive penalties pinned them on their own try-line.

Peterborough had looked to take advantage of the territory through Adam Barnard but the referee pulled them up for a forward pass, but awarded them with a penalty as Luton where caught offside and Adam Harris was sent to the sin-bin for constant infringement.

Peterborough took full advantage of the extra man within the space of two minutes when scrum half Laurent Ross burrowed his way over from close range for an unconverted try.

And they were in again five minutes later when a strong driving maul allowed captain Chris Humphrey to touch down for a converted try to give his side a comfortable 25-8 lead with 28 minutes still to play.

Peterborough kept pounding away at Luton’s line but the hosts defence held firm and clawed themselves back into the game in the 64th minute when another superb break from Ellis sent Robbie Smith racing in under the posts for a converted try to close the gap to 10 points with 15 minutes to play.

Luton looked to play more expansive rugby as they looked to break the Lions defence, but simple errors gifted Peterborough the ball and they finally closed the game out in the 75th minute when Humphrey crossed for his second of the match after another driving maul got them close to Luton’s try line.

Peterborough held onto the 30-15 lead to become just the 12th club to lift the Cup in its 42 year history.

A photo gallery of the match can be found at Ian Nancollas Photography

Luton Team: Sam Pacey, Ben Murphy (Dwayne Duffy 57), Marc Tindall (Karl Roddell 69), Pat Nelly (Tom Albone 50), Craig South (Matt Yang 67), Michael Weston, Adam Harris (Mobashar Mahmood 70), Jack Elston (John Kerr 72), Robbie Smith, Chris Talanoa, Chris Davis, Steve Ellis, Jake Hobbs (Steffan Cambriani 38), Rik Hobbs (Conor Sibley 67), Tom Mahendren (Doug Fluker 24).
T: Mahendren, Smith. P: R.Hobbs. C: Smith

Peterborough Team: Edvinas Macas (Ramos Zokas 55), Mark Carter, Tom Laws (Maksim Guseinov 67), Marius Andrijauskas, John Harlock, Arturas Balciunas (Adam Peel 48), Chris Humphrey, Saad Sait (Jaco Steenberg 40), Laurent Ross (Manny Van Niekerk 62), Duncan Low (Tuitubou Ulaiasi 62), Rudie Van Dew Merwe, Adam Barnard, Gediminas Marcisauskas, Vernon Horne, Reggie Reid (Harry Winch 72).
T: Sait, Ross, Humphrey 2. P: Low 2. C: Low 2.

Referee: Andrew Beckett
Touch Judges: Gary Malpas and Peter Lyes