1st XV
Matches
Sat 12 Apr 2014  ·  London 1 North
Luton Rugby Football Club
1st XV
19
27
Eton Manor
Eton teach Luton a lesson in good finishing

Eton teach Luton a lesson in good finishing

Ian Nancollas14 Apr 2014 - 20:31
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Luton lost their final London One North game of the season as they went down 29-19 to Eton Manor at Newlands Road on Saturday so finishing in 4th.

A poor first half performance proved pivotal for the hosts as Eton Manor ran in 22 unanswered points before the half time break.

The visitors controlled all aspects of the first half and had many chances to open the scoring as Callum McKie pushed two penalty conversions wide within the first 10 minutes and Reece Reed dropped the ball over the try-line.

However, Manor did not have to wait long until they finally got themselves on the scoreboard when Tryson Goodchild took advantage of a short line-out to score in the corner; McKie missed the conversion to give the visitors a 5-0 lead with 17 minutes on the clock.

The visitors were in again five minutes later after another sustained period camped on Luton’s line allowed center, Alex Hunter to force his way over for a converted try.

Luton were their own worst enemy as the spilled the ball inside their own 22m on a number of occasions. And Manor made them pay when Chris Jones jinxed his way over for another converted try in the 28th minute.
Manor then extended their lead through an R.Reed penalty to take the score to 0-22 at the half time break.

Luton responded well in the second half and they were the first to get on the scoreboard when Jake Hobbs crossed in the 58th minute.

J.Hobbs credited from Rik Hobbs’ initial break inside his own half before off-loading to Chris Talanoa who then fed J.Hobbs to race 30m to score next to the uprights for a converted try.

Luton were on top for the first time in the game as they were camped on the visitors try line but a loose ball was picked up by Manor’s Ian Edwards who raced 30m down field before off-loading to Jones who then raced 70m to score an unconverted try to extend the visitors lead to three converted tries with 13 minutes left on the clock.

Two yellow cards within the space of a minute for Eton Manor’s Dan Johnson and Kevin Reed gave Luton some hope of getting something out of the game and they responded immediately through Ben Murphy who spun his way over from close range for an R.Hobbs converted try.

Luton were in again two minutes later when a strong driving scrum allowed Number 8, Adam Harris to pick the ball up and dive over in the corner, R.Hobbs unsuccessful with the conversion to take the final score to 19-27 Eton Manor.

A full selection of match photography can be found at Ian Nancollas Images

Luton Team: Sam Pacey, Ryan Sheppard (Ben Murphy 50), Marc Tindall, Pat Nelly, Craig South (John Kerr 68), Ryan Staff, Kevin Scales (Jack E, Adam Harris, Robbie Smith, Rik Hobbs, Michael Weston Chris Talanoa, Jake Hobbs, Chris Davis, Tom Albone.
T: J.Hobbs, Murphy, Harris. C: R.Hobbs 2.

Eton Manor Team: Damian Horton (Dan Dyson 40), Tryson Goodchild, Ciaran Bowman, Ian Edwards, John Robinson, Barney Newbury, Kevin Reed (Dan Johnson 57), Garth Tucker, Reece Reed, Callum McKie, Ben Thomas (Tim Wells 70), Alex Hunter, Will Mowbray, Chris Jones, Mark Woollard.
T: Goodchild, Hunter, Jones 2. C: R.Reed 3. P: R.Reed.

Referee: Peter Lyes

Match details

Match date

Sat 12 Apr 2014

Kickoff

15:00

Competition

London 1 North
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