Rugby Union: Action from January 4

08/10/13 mk sports pics – office, milton keynes

LUTON RFC made the 150 mile journey to the far side of Norfolk to play North Walsham Vikings in their London 1 North league fixture this weekend, and were narrowly beaten 21-18, tasting defeat for the first time in five.

“They played a good game,” said Luton’s Backs Coach Nick Rhodes. “They’re unbeaten at home this season, and on the balance of play, they probably deserved that result.”

On a wet and boggy surface, Luton’s playing style was restricted, as they failed to really get their backs running with ball in hand. Luton fell behind to two Vikings’ penalties and a converted try to trail 13-0, but were able to go in at the interval just five points down, 13-7, with Jack Elston scoring for the visiting Lutonians, and Rik Hobbs adding the conversion.

Michael Weston scored the try of the game at the start of the second period, running 40 yards with the ball, breaking several tackles, and scoring in the corner to bring Luton back to within a point of their hosts, Hobbs unable to add two points from the conversion.

The Vikings scored against the run of play from a counter-attack as Luton pressed their hosts late on in the second half, to take an 18-12 advantage into the closing stages.

Hobbs added a further two penalties, in treacherous conditions, to level the score at 18-18, only for the Vikings scrum-half to slot a further penalty between the posts for the home side with just minutes left on the clock. Despite Luton being camped on the Vikings’ goal line for the remaining minutes of the game, they were unable to cross the whitewash, and have to make do with a single league point for losing the game by less than seven points.

DUNSTABLIANS’ Midlands 2 away game at Leicester Forest was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, so they will need to wait until next weekend to get 2014 under way, a home derby-game against table-topping Leighton Buzzard, a team that comfortably beat the Dees 38-7 when they met earlier in the season.

STOCKWOOD PARK enjoyed a rest week, as their opponents’ pitch at Daventry was water-logged this weekend. They will be looking to getting back to winning ways against Deepings, at home next weekend.

Article source: http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/rugby-league-bradford-trio-back-helm-194747518--spt.html

Rugby Union: Action from January 4