London 1 North: Luton 31 - 26 Diss

Mahendran scored two tries as Luton ran out narrow winners against the visitors.

First team manager Steve Evans was satisfied with Saturday’s result and is looking forward to the next game.

“I’m really proud of the team today. From the kick-off, their mindset was right and they came out determined to secure another win,” he said.

“Tom [Mahendran] scored two very impressive tries in the first half and was man of the match. He played a pivotal role in the overall result for the team.

“We now need to keep our momentum as we move into our next game against Sudbury.”

In a fiery encounter, both teams started on the front-foot, with Luton having the first chance to challenge the scoreboard.

Fly-half David Hamm missed a penalty but soon made amends by converting a Martin O’Grady’s try, to give Luton a deserved lead.

Away skipper John Bergin levelled the scores, but Mahendran’s two tries in 10 minutes gave the home side a comfortable 19-7 lead at the break.

Evans felt Luton “took their foot off the gas,” in the early stages of the second half, allowing the visitors back into the game through tries from Jorge Serruys and John Laurie.

Harry Alston and namesake Wright both came on to steady the team, and despite a late effort from Serruys, Luton held onto take the win with Steve Allen and Tom Garner tries.

The result moves Luton into seventh in the table, just a point behind Old Haberdashers, while they travel to Sudbury next weekend.

Match Reporter
Orsi Zsuppan