South put the wind up Luton!

High flying Luton given a fright by combative South.

Make no mistake this was a cracking game with South holding all the aces up front while the hosts had the more effective back division. South were 21-19 up until the 77th minute when the pressure told and they collectively ran out of steam enabling Luton to score two crucial converted tries.
For the second week in succession Luton got out of jail to continue their march towards promotion, but it was such a close thing. South made it so difficult for the home team and all the players deserve credit for the way they played. It was cruel that the final winning margin of twelve points meant South didn’t gain a losing bonus point such was the commitment shown by the players.

South were a hugely changed team from the previous victory over Kenilworth due to injury, work commitments and a reluctance by some to travel. However, those players who committed themselves to the cause did South proud none more than bullish captain Mike March, Chris Bale (playing out of position at 12), Stu Bale and man of the match Kris Mcfedries (out of position at 15). Tom Perkins showed up well with some positive attacking breakaways and solid defence as did Gaz Jones, Dom Green and Wes Cartwright.

Luton opened the scoring in the 4th minute with a converted try and then the South forwards took over forcing Luton to defend for long periods in their own 22 metre area. South were denied a close quarter try, but Mark Lord opened their account with a penalty. Luton scored their second converted try from a South mistake to open up a 14-3 lead, before Lord added a monster penalty from just inside the opponents half. The South juggernaut battered the home pack into submission with Chris Bale scoring a try after good collective work by the forwards. Lord added the conversion from wide on the right hand touchline.
Half time South were in touch at 13-14 with Luton a man down after winger Hills was yellow carded for persistent infringing during the scoring of the South try.
South continued where they had left off immediately after half time with another powerful forward rush immediately from the kick off. Twenty two stone of prime Wigston beef in the shape of Stu Bale demolished half the Luton pack while Wes Cartwright was on hand to put Chris Bale in for his and South’s second try. Lord was narrowly wide with his conversion against the wind. South were now in the lead and Luton were under the cosh. Kohler and Lord exchanged penalties on the hour and South kept their nose in front until the eventful last three minutes when the momentum finally swung in the home teams favour and the home backs showed their prowess.

South were certainly good value for a bonus point and perhaps could have won the encounter. Luton were certainly shocked by the intensity of the South effort, but it wasn’t to be their day – roll on Kettering next week.

Team: McFedries, Martin, King H, Bale C, Gonsalves, Lord, Jordan, March ©, Mark C, Perkins, Cartwright, Bale S, Bayley, Green, Jones.

Unused replacements: Harrison, Fincham, King L.

The whole team deserve congratulations on their collective sterling work – it’s a shame that again only a handful of the South faithful were there to witness their super effort.