Mahendran masterclass downs Diss

Despite a top two finish now being beyond Luton, the team were desperate to boost morale with a comfortable win as the East Midlands Cup final against Peterborough Lions is fast approaching. The side did just that, scoring 10 ten tries against a Diss side who were already relegated from London One North.

On a sunny and warm day at Diss, it only took three minutes for Luton to score their first try of the match through Jake Hobbs. Diss were looking to play as much as Luton, but poor handling inside their 22 allowed J Hobbs to pick up the loose ball and run in under the posts.

Luton’s second try arrived on nine minutes through full-back Mahendran with the first of his four tries. A Luton line-out on the 40m line was won and quick ball to the backs was duly supplied. The backs then created an overlap on the right wing through good lines and long passing and it was Mahendran who was able to dummy well and score.

The backs of Luton were looking to enjoy themselves early on and their third score arrived after 13 minutes. With the ball deep inside Diss’ 22, Steve Ellis picked a line that the home defence couldn’t stop. The centre was allowed to side step two defenders from close range and score under the posts, securing a 0-21 lead after just thirteen minutes.

It looked like it was only a matter of time before Luton’s bonus point try would arrive, and it duly did on 20 minutes. Mahendran scored his second of the match through another overlap on the right wing, almost a carbon copy of his first try. It looked like the pace Luton were looking to play at would allow them to score a lot more tries, but it was Diss who scored the only other try in the first half.

Through a number of penalties, Diss were able to venture their way into Luton’s half and exert some pressure for the first time in the match. On 37 minutes, the pressure told as prop forward Tim Groom grounded the ball over Luton’s line and reduce Luton’s lead to 5-26 at half time.

Despite Diss’ territory advantage late in the first half, there only looked to be one winner as Luton were quick to score their fifth try early in the second half. On 43 minutes, Rik Hobbs passed to Mahendran to score his hat-trick. The full-back making a strong run through the Diss midfield and his pace didn’t allow defenders to get back and stop him before grounding under the posts.

Captain for the day Steve Ellis wanted in on the try scoring act, with the inside centre scoring his second and third tries after 46 and 50 minutes respectively. On 46 minutes, the centre side stepped two defenders after collecting the ball near the half way line and making his way to the try line by the posts. Ellis’ hat-trick score was a simpler affair as he collected the ball in the Diss 22 before running ten metres to ground the ball near the corner. Both tries were converted and Luton lead 5-47.

The backs were full of confidence and were looking to score a try from anywhere on the pitch, Luton’s eighth was arguably the best score. Jake Hobbs made a break in his own half before kicking to the left wing where kiwi Chris Talanoa was waiting to collect and run 40 metres to get his name on the score sheet; it also took Luton’s scoring to 54 points.

Luton were scoring a point a minute and on 61 and 64 minutes they scored their ninth and tenth try of the match. Mahendran scored his fourth on 61 minutes after finding space on the wing following fluent passes from his fly half and centres.

Luton’s try scoring was completed on 64 minutes via a Jake Hobbs score, with neat offloads from Rik Hobbs and Tom Albone to free the centre and allow him to score his second.

Rik Hobbs’ kicking was brilliant all day as the fly half converted nine of Luton’s ten tries, meaning Luton lead 5-68 after 64 minutes.

However, like in the first half, Diss scored the last try of the second half through another Groom score from close range. The hosts’ second try was no more than a consolation and Luton thoroughly deserved the 12-68 margin of victory.

Luton welcome second place Eton Manor to Newlands Road on Saturday in their final league match of the season.

Diss 1 to 15: Matt Richards (c), Edward Passmore (Fraser Hall 40), Tim Groom, John Bergin, Scott Deacon (Adam Goymur 52), Oliver Taylor, Michael Fuller, Deaglan Hall; Joe Seaman, Thomas Muller, Peter Chartier, Jake Girdler (Matthew Cullum 57), Stuart Burroughs, Todd Wishart, Thomas Holt.
Points: Tries – Groom 2 Convo – Muller

Luton: Marc Tindall (Jack Elbone 52), Ryan Shephard, Sam Pacey, Craig South, Karl Rodell, Tom Albone, Michael Weston, Matt Yang; Rob Smith, Rik Hobbs, Chris Talanoa, Steve Ellis (c), Jake Hobbs, Brandon Lewsey (Tom Wilmore 60), Tom Mahendran.

Tries – Tom Mahendran 4, Steve Ellis 3, Jake Hobbs 2, Chris Talanoa
Convo – Rik Hobbs 9

Referee: Russeell Clark
Touch judges: Jeremiah Hanafin and Paul Cochrane

Man of the Match: Tom Mahendran, the full back ran in four tries and his pace was too much for the Diss defence to handle.