St Albans First Team
Match Reports
LUTON SALVAGE CUP WIN!Saturday 5th November 2005
St Albans 19 - Luton 25
Saints welcomed near neighbours Luton RFC to Boggymead Spring for the first time in years in a competitive match because the two clubs normally play in different league regions.Luton RFC go back a long way but were disbanded then refounded in 1930.They have since gone from strength to strength and are currently third from top in the Powergen Midland 1 League.A far younger Saints club in comparison are in the more junior London North 2 .Saints visited Luton for an evening friendly training match in August so the two sides do know something of each other.The visitors had all in their favour except home advantage so could they capitalise in the Cup?
nocd civ 4Conditions were good,13C,overcast with a light to moderate southerly wind blowing straight across a firm, well kept pitch.
Mr Philip Davies ,a 27 year old Herts Society referee already experienced at National League level,got the game under way.
Luton kicked off and immediately pressured Saints in their 22.From the first lineout 15 metres from Saints line, a Saints clearance kick was charged down on their 22 for Luton to follow up and record a dream start of a try after just 50 seconds,unconverted.Saints 0 Luton 5.
Luton kept up the pressure and on 4 minutes Saints flanker Richard Louw was yellow carded inside his 22 for a high tackle and not using his arms.
It took until 9 minutes before Saints got into Luton's half and gained an attacking lineout 18 metres out from Luton's line following a penalty.An excellent two handed catch by Saints captain Dan Hillier fed the pack who drove relentlessly over Luton's line for Herts county No 8 John Sayers to score a quality textbook try, unconverted.
So on 10 minutes and still with only 14 men Saints had equalised at 5-5.
Luton retaliated and drove downfield , Saints defence holding up better now.From a series of scrums and lineouts in Saints 22 ,Luton finally broke through to score a hard fought unconverted try.
On 17 minutes Saints 5 Luton 10.
Play ebbed and flowed with first Saints camping near Luton's 5 metre line but coming away with nothing.Then Luton broke out ,kicked long into Saints in-goal where Saints No13 Martin Alderton saved a certain try by touching down a whisker ahead of Luton's chasing speed merchants.
Saints clawed their way back into Luton's 22 and laid siege to their goal line with a series of scrums.The pressure finally told as the Saints pack bludgeoned their way over Luton's line for John Sayers to score his second ,well protected textbook try converted by No10 John Andrews.
So on 36 minutes Saints had taken the lead for the first time, Saints 12 Luton 10.
An exciting first half finished fast and furious with both sides still adventurously running the ball, big hits flying in all round but no further scoring.
Local Cup Rugby at it's best, end to end stuff and certainly not for the faint hearted!
Half time St.Albans 12 Luton 10.
From the re-start first Luton then Saints continued to press.
On 45 minutes Saints forced a scrum 18 metres from Luton's line .From a good heel Saints looked to go open but suddenly switched it on the blindside crash ball to full back Joe Shaw entering the line at pace.His well timed pass gave winger James Dickinson just enough space to scorch past the Luton defence on the outside.He crossed in the corner but had enough gas to score under the Luton posts.John Andrews kicked a simple conversion to make it Saints 19 Luton 10.
A big Cup upset was now a possibility as the 150 strong crowd roared both sides on.
This galvanised Luton who now moved up a gear and also into Saints 22 where they camped for several minutes throwing everything at Saints.
Saints defence was excellent and on 54 minutes the vociferous crowd ,no floating voters here,were treated to the outstanding tackle of the day.
Luton had attacked open but brought the ball back to the blindside as Saints young South African hooker Brenton Lemiere covered 25 metres across from midfield inside his 22.
His massive wrap-up tackle on Luton's No 13 ,who shunned a two man overlap on the outside,sent the No 13 two metres backwards to ground where he was penalised for holding on to the ball. Brenton Lemiere (picture) had transformed a certain Luton try into a pressure relieving penalty to Saints.Brilliant play!
Events continued helter skelter in Saints half with turnovers by both sides.
Luton's pressure finally told when they snapped up a loose ball from a series of turnovers on Saints 22 to go over for an easy converted try.
On 56 minutes Saints 19 Luton 17.
Saints pack continued to trouble Luton whose prop was penalised for going up in the scrum.John Andrews kicked play down to 15 metres from Luton's line.
Luton's good defence and counter-attacking pace suddenly paid dividends as they broke out to within 15 metres of Saints line.
On 67 minutes,disaster struck the hosts.Saints aimlessly kicked the ball downfield to Luton's 22.Their wing gathered,crossed halfway untouched and fed his supporting full back who ran through at least 6 Saints players,who all failed to tackle,to score a try in the corner,unconverted.Saints 19 Luton 22.
I now know why our Coach has turned grey this season!
Said grey haired gentleman used all 4 Saints substitutes effectively in the final 20 minutes.Donald Onyuma,Farren Mahoney,Dave Stanford and Jack Stevenson all weighed in to the common cause to keep the game on the boil.
Saints refused to lie down but could not gain much territory eventually being penalised on 72 minutes out wide for offside on their 22.
Luton kicked a good long penalty to make it Saints 19 Luton 25.
The clock ticked down with both sides still going hammer and tongs,blood bin and all!Saints had one last chance -a penalty on Luton's 22 in the dying minute.
Showing fighting spirit to the last Saints ran it to Luton's line but the ball was scrambled into touch on the final whistle.
Final Score. St.Albans 19 Luton 25.
Saints Coach Tim Andrews and skipper Dan Hillier congratulated all 19 of the team who had nearly pulled off a big Cup upset against stern opposition.
They had given their senior Luton neighbours a big scare, had feared no one and in hindsight could have won a famous victory.
Player reliability especially at training is still paramount but will guarantee we progress onwards and upwards.Be there prompt Tuesdays and Thursdays then Saturdays automatically get more successful!
This had been an exciting local Cup derby where in the end Luton's power and pace in the backs broke Saints down .Up front Saints pack more than held their own showing 2 excellent tries,one from scrum and one from lineout, straight from the training paddock which had taken Luton right to the brink.In defence hooker Brenton Lemiere (picture) covered 25 metres to execute a brilliant try saving Tackle of the Day,a shining example of what all 18 or19 Saints have to do for the full 80 minutes.