Lucs throw caution to the wind to beat Titans in thriller

Like so many games for the Titans, it has been fine margins which have decided the outcomes, writes Mike Amos.

On 14 minutes, Luctonians kicked, and Reece Malone, who had an outstanding game, raced down the touchline, broke the defending tackle, and, with one man to beat, passed to Matt Whitlock in support, who scored the try which Tom Putt converted.

Luctonians, in their desperate defence, were conceding penalties, and on 21 minutes Tom went for an attempt at goal, it had the distance but shaved just wide of the left hand post.

He tried again just five minutes later and just failed.

On 27 minutes, the Titans conceded their only penalty of the first half, together with a yellow card.

With just five minutes of the half left, and a rare visit to the Titans 22, Luctonians dominated the depleted scrum, won the ball with a pick-up, and Ben Rogers made a superb tackle on their number eight.

They recycled the ball, and Luctonians scrummie Jonty Monk went in for the try.

With the conversion missed, the Titans held a slender two-point lead up to the halftime break. 5-7.

Within the first minute of the restart for the second half, Ben Rogers received the ball close to the halfway line, stepped through the tackle, and accelerated away, beating the last line of defence to score an exciting solo effort try.

Tom converted, and the Titans had a nine-point lead. 5-14.

The Titans' discipline was good and conceded only three penalties in the second half; however, it was from a conceded penalty that Luctonians scored their second try.

They kicked to the corner and won the lineout, where they were dominant, and mauled to the line, but good defence by the Titans stopped them short, but after seven pick and drives they eventually went in for the converted try to reduce their deficit to just two points.
12-14.

Whilst the Titans had most of the possession and territory they succumbed to a break by the Luctonians left wing, who scored the try on 52 minutes to take Luctonians in front for the first time in the game giving them a five-point lead. 19-14.

It was another break from their right wing which saw perhaps the tackle of the match when Scott Gibson chased the wing, who was clear and stopped him from scoring a certain try.

The Titans regrouped and worked their way back towards the Luctonians line with Reece Malone scoring the try to level the scores with just 13 minutes left to go.

Tom Putt missed the kick from wide out. 19-19.

The final score came on the 80-minute mark where Luctonians threw caution to the wind allowing their left wing to break free.

After a series of pick and drives Lucs scored the try which was converted to give them the win. 26-19.

There were too many outstanding performances to single out one player, but great credit must go to Alex Spurdle who, on his 200th appearance, put in one of those outstanding performances.

Another long trip to Hinkley this week.