CS Rugby 1863 27 – 17 Luton RFC

In a match much-affected by fierce winds and despite playing into the wind CS raced in three tries in the first half hour. Ultimately CS gained the full 5 points with Luton nil, but it was to prove a hard fought win in more ways than one. The game had only just started when CS were awarded a penalty which they kicked to the corner, or as near as possible into the driving wind. CS won the line out and when they moved the angle of the drive, Bunckle was on hand to get the touch down. The fierce wind made the conversion virtually impossible, which left CS 5 – 0 up. Using the huge wind benefit Luton took play deep into CS territory and although they were awarded a penalty it was missed. Shortly later, from a scrum there was a long stoppage which resulted in Christian Preece leaving the field as a result of the injury he sustained. Josh Forrester came on which required a rearrangement of the front row.

On 18 minutes play started deep in CS’s territory which resulted in one of their best tries of the season. The ball was moved from a scrum via a couple of quick crisp passes to full back Houstoun, who broke and then fed Paddy Blenner Hassett on the right wing who sprinted off. As he was about to be stopped , he passed back to Houstoun who was still on his shoulder, who stepped the last man and scored under the posts – his 11th of the season, Tom Hodgson converted for a 12 – 0 lead. On the half hour mark a sumptuous pass found Paddy BH again who this time sprinted to the line 17 – 0.

Luton’s first score which was an interception from a pass by the CS fly half enabling the Luton player an easy score under the posts 17 – 7. Luton scored again in the 53 minute of the first half, following several scrum penalties and a yellow card for one of the CS back row players and the half finished 17 – 12.

As early as the 5th minute of the second half Luton scored to tie the game and CS spectators were wondering if the first half interception as well as a missed score when Ollie Full-James dropped the ball in the process of scoring might cost them dear. Every time CS had promising passages of play which forced Luton to give away a number of penalty offences which resulted in Luton players being yellow carded in the 10th, 15th and 32nd minutes of the second half. CS had had two five metre line outs that were not successful but on 17 minutes they at last succeeded and Josh Forrester was the scorer from the driving maul; Hodgson converted, although a penalty ten minutes later was missed. Finally on 43 minutes Hodgson converted a penalty which denied Luton a losing bonus point with CS winning 27 – 17.

It is fair to say that earlier in the season CS may well have lost such a game but the fact that they did not was to their collective credit.

Next week CS visit Thurrock.