Jamin Hodgkins and his Luctonians Rugby Football Club teammates defeated Clifton Rugby 37 - 15 in their first home game of the season in front of superb vocal home supporters.
Heavy rain before kick-off threatened to make the pitch a mud bath, but the rain swept through rapidly and the game was played at a good pace throughout. Luctonians opening their account after 11 minutes when center Lewis Parkes fed off a line out ball to dive over, with the immaculate Hodgkins kicking the first of his 14 points from the resultant conversion.
Ollie Milliner reduced the arrears after 18 minutes when he kicked a penalty following a Luctonians high tackle, but it was to be their only points of the first half as Luctonians dominated possession.
Clifton were not however giving any ground advantage, but the penalty count was high for both sides. And it was from infringements in front of the posts that Hodgkins slotted 2 quick Penalties for the home side after 32 and 36 minutes to give them a 13-3 lead. Caleb Montgomery for the home side then stole away from a driving maul right on half time to give Luctonians a 20-3 lead, with Hodgkins converting which gave Luctonians a 20 - 3 half time lead.
It wasn’t long into the second half before Jack Goodwin also dived through following a line out, to add to Luctonians lead making it 25 - 3 with the away side losing Henry Harper to a yellow for foul play in the build-up.
Clifton however kept the home side honest when they replied almost immediately with a well worked try that saw Alex Kilbane dot down; Milliner adding the extras for 25-10 scoreline. Luctonians set piece however was excellent and, from another driving maul, Joe White was also over the whitewash on 56 minutes to secure Luctonians Try bonus point to lead 30 - 10.
But Clifton continued to give the home side a battle, despite them losing Mitchell Spencer to a yellow for ‘slapping’ down the ball in an interception after 56 minutes. It wasn’t until Josh Watkins scored the try of the game following a flowing move across the pitch on 63 minutes, with Charlie Grimes and Josh Nott playing a leading role in putting the winger in the corner; with Hodgkins kicking a excellent conversion to lead 39 - 10.
Luctonians didn’t take the result for granted and they had to grind out the last 15 minutes with Clifton looking to get something out of the match. The home side lost Caleb Montgomery to a yellow on 68 and Conor Geraghty for foul play followed him on 76, seeing the home side play most of the last 15 minutes 2 players down.
This allowed Clifton , through Jamel Hamiliton to round off the day’s scoring 39 - 15 with the last play for a consolation Try on 80 minutes.
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