Luton battle hard to gain victory over Belgrave

14-man Luton battle hard to gain victory over Belgrave

Callum Strachan’s try and a double from Jake Hobbs gave Luton a 19-15 win over table-toppers Belgrave.

Both teams went into the game with a 100 percent win record from their first two fixtures of the season.

Luton heavily dominated the possession in the first 12 minutes of the game with Belgrave not even being able to get out of their own half, and after a number of good phases of play outside centre Jake Hobbs touched down right between posts.

Fly Half Rik Hobbs had no problems with the easy conversion to make it 7-0.

Belgrave fought back quickly and were adamant that they had scored when Full Back Kevin Curtis chased down a grubber kick from Scrum Half Kyron Kyle, but the referee deemed the number 15 did not touch down the ball within the try-zone.

Belgraves good run of play payed off when Curtis pulled back three points after 20 minutes with a well-taken penalty from 10 metres out to make it 7-3.

Belgrave failed to get any more points on the board during their long period in possession and when their flanker was sent to the sin bin Luton took full advance with Callum Strachan scrambling the ball over the line.

Fly Half Hobbs converted brilliantly from an angle with the last kick of the half to give the hosts an 11-point advance at the break.

Belgrave continued to dominate in the second half and the referee awarded the visitors a penalty try to close the gap to just four points.

Luton were then reduced to 14 men by the referee as replacement Hooker Ryan Sheppard was sent off for “alleged foul play” after a collapsed scrum.

Belgrave failed to take advance of the extra man as a brilliant run from by outside centre Jake Hobbs from inside his own half broke the Belgrave half way line, he then wonderfully sold the opposition Scrum Half a dummy before crossing the line to make it 19-10.

However, brother Rik kicked his conversion wide of the far post from near the right by-line.

Luton were then reduced to 13 men as Second Row Andy Davy was sent to the sin bin.

This time Belgrave did take advantage of their possession as their number 13 gathered the ball from the back of a ruck and fantastically wiggled his way through the home teams defence to make it 19-15.

Belgrave’s Full Back failed to make the conversion from a very tight angle on the by-line.

Luton put good pressure on the visitors for the remainder of the game and had them pushed back deep into their own half.

However, nothing came of the late possession and whilst the home team failed to secure a bonus point win they did extend their winning run to three in a row.

Luton’s next game will be away to Long Buckby on the 14th October