Match Report

 Smallford 24-64 Luton

17/06/06 (Courtesy of Luton Vipers)

The Vipers opened their 'second' season in the London League with a comfortable victory over a battling Smallford side. Returning to action after almost a month, Luton shrugged off the trauma of having to withdraw from the RLC Premier in their first London League encounter. Despite a one sided scoreline however, this was a far from easy game as the Saints battled hard and dominated large parts of the second half.

Early on though the gap in experience was obvious as Luton settled quicker and registered over a point a minute in the first half. Experienced scrum half Danny Webb opened the scoring after 5 minutes when he broke through the Saints defence and ran 30 metres untouched. Wing Steve Marchant, making his first Vipers appearance in over a year, added the second after the Vipers had brilliantly kept the ball alive to find him on the right wing.

James Hankey grabbed the first of a club record 5 scores after 18 minutes when Dermot McCabe's break had left the defence in disarray. Luton quickly moved the ball left and Hankey was on hand to touch down. Hankey grabbed his second when he popped up on the right to finish off a move started by Matt Spencer and Dave Haylett. Marchant added his second from another Spencer break and Hankey hat trick followed soon after when Luton displayed great handling skils to unlock the Smallford defence. Debutant Ryan Folley set up Hankeys fourth with a superb 60 metre break and Luton looked like they would rack up a cricket score with 32 on the board after 27 minutes.

Smallford had other ideas though as they battled back to break their duck capitalising on a penalty and knock on by Luton that set up great field position and Grover drove over beside the posts. That score set up a more even contest as Luton only edged the final 53 minutes 32-24. Luton still looked in control though as Spencer punished a Saints knock on to score and McCabe's 50 metre break set up Dave Haylett to touch down under the posts. McCabe himself finished the scoring in the half with a powerful run and break to make it 48-06 at the break.

An over elaborate Vipers team were riddled by mistakes early in the second half and the dogged Saints kept pressuring the Luton line without success in a nervy opening 20. Then on 60 minutes a period of sustained pressure finally yielded points for Smallford as prop 'The Swede' burst through the Vipers defensive line to score. Three minutes later he did it again after a great 60 metre break had split the Luton defence. Vipers prop Spencer steadied the visitors after wing Jason Mitchell had broken free only to be dragged down 10 metres from the Saints line. With Luton struggling to break a tough Saints defence, Spencer bulled his way over under the posts.

Smallford refused to step backwards and responded with a fourth try of their own when a mistake from the kick off gifted the Saints the ball. Good forward pressure saw Smallford go close and Tony Giddings went over to complete a period where the Saints had outscored Luton 24-22. However, in the sweltering conditions the Saints were unable to maintain their fight back and Luton finished strongly with late scores from McCabe and a record breaking fifth try by Hankey.

The Saints second half come back sets up an intriguing return next Saturday when the Smallford will be visiting Luton looking to build on their late success and perhaps get one over their more experienced hosts.