LUCSLINE

Issue 258 April 30th 2015

From the Retiring Editor: We have experienced some big days and large events at Mortimer Park, but what happened on Saturday superseded all that have gone before. The pathetic amount of column space offered by the Hereford Times last week following a massive win at Harrogate, was offset by a tremendous in house marketing campaign via Lucsline, Twitter, Facebook and the author of El Sporting Times. The result was an 800 plus crowd and a host of messages from around the globe wishing our players the best for the game.

Where the team will openly admit that they did not put in their best performance and clinical finishing was a scarce entity saved for 2 minutes from the end, there are times when you reflect that things are just meant to be the way they are. How else can you explain the 4 on 1 advantage that Leicester created only for the fly half to pass the ball to ground, or the fact that he knocked on an interception in the first half that would have given him an easy 30 metre run in to our line?

The collective expression of jubilation and relief on the final whistle from a crowd that had been held in suspense as Leicester did everything to spoil the party, was no less than our young group of players and Management expected. They have worked hard against the odds all season, and stuck to the undying principle that fortune favours the brave. As the day moved from the pitch to the bar it was obvious when the cider and lager ran out by 5pm that a busy night for our staff was ahead. Having ordered double the amount than he normally would, Millsy could not have predicted the thirst that North Herefordshire had on Saturday. With a few phone calls Wayne had the job sorted and your new Administrator stepped up to the mark with an heroic beer ferrying effort that saw Smitty travelling to and from various pubs and supermarkets still in his playing kit until 8pm. Well done to our staff on their efforts Saturday and Su Waugh who deserves a special mention for her contribution behind the bar and in the kitchen.

The key now is doing everything we can to make sure that we do not find ourselves in the same position next season. The primary responsibility for this lies with Alex Davidson, our Director of Rugby, and will revolve around signing some key players for September. Easier said than done given our location.

Rugby continued on Sunday at the North Midlands Finals day where our u16’s had to contend with a 27 – 27 draw against Telford. Next weekend sees the migration of our Mini section to Colwyn Bay and Sunday concludes the season when our RMS u19 Colts take on Moseley in the Cup Final at Old Halesonians. We hope to see you there for a 3-15pm kick off.

And finally, as I pack my cardboard box to leave the office and fulltime employment at the Club, I would like to thank Luctonians for the send off at the lunch on Saturday and their kind words in the programme.

Norm

This Weekend’s Matches Saturday Team Opposition Competition Venue Time 1st XI Canon Frome League Home 1-00pm 2nd XI Ledbury 2nd XI League Away 1-00pm 3rd XI Hay-on-Wye 1st XI League Away 1-00pm Sunday Team Opposition Competition Venue Time U15 Loughborough Home 11-00am RMS Colts Moseley North Mids Cup Final Old Halesonians 3-15pm

Mo Yarwood & The Herefordshire Prostate Cancer Trust Testers Just a note to thank Mo and her team of nurses who came to the club last Saturday and performed free blood tests to all men over 40 years of age, as an early diagnosis tool to detect for potential problems with Prostate Cancer. Over 60 men were tested and having done this for the last two years we plan to make this an annual check up with Mo and her team at one of the final home games of next season.

We thank her and the team for providing such a fantastic free service and thank all of you who supported the raffle in aid of the Herefordshire Prostate Cancer Fund, where we raised £1310.83 for this terrific charity. Well done all!!

Euroheat A special thank you also to our Club Sponsor Euroheat, not just for their unwavering support throughout the season but also for the £3750 donation that we received from them this weekend as part of the “Heat for you, Support for Lucs” boiler promotion, that sees Euroheat donate money back into the club for every boiler they sell to the community associated with Luctonians. Again a huge Thank You from all of us at the club.

Nick Verdier’s team of the week:

1. Ian Stock (Chinnor) – Ending the season in style with a bonus-point win at the already relegated Dings, Chinnor enjoyed a fine afternoon and so did Stock who helped himself to two tries. 2. Alex Bloisi (Ampthill) – The hooker got his side’s first try as they pushed for one final bonus-point win in the hope of catching Hull Ionians - which they unfortunately couldn’t. They will now take on Bishop’s Stortford in the National League One promotion play-off. 3. Sean Edwards (Bishop’s Stortford) – Stortford’s pack will be high on confidence going into that play-off after winning three penalty tries against Launceston where Edwards spearheaded the scrum with aplomb. 4. Dave Clements (Henley) – The Hawks lost their last game of the season but they’ll return to National League One after dominating the NL2S all season. Captain Clements celebrated the promotion with a brace against Dorking. 5. Chris Jacques (Luctonians) – Lucs had their fate in their hands but Jacques’ outstanding display against Leicester Lions ensured they retained their NL2N status for another season even if they left it a bit late to seal the deal. 6. Santiago Socino (Hull Ionians) – Ionians knew yet another bonus-point win would crown them NL2N champions and secure promotion to NL1. Socino was on hand with the first of five tries. 7. Jamie Thompson (Richmond) – For the second week running, the Richmond fans were treated to a try-fest at the Athletic Ground. After Adam Gasby, last week, it was Thompson’s turn to score a hat-trick. 8. Leroy Houston (Bath) – The big No.8 was at his rampaging best against London Irish carrying and tackling relentlessly all game. He was the one starting the second-half blitz with a try five minutes in. 9. Jordan Burns (Richmond) – Thompson wasn’t the only one crossing the line three times for Richmond against Macclesfield last week as Harlequins youngster Burns matched his performance. 10. Nicky Robinson (Bristol) – The West Country outfit secured top spot in the Championship in style with a win at fellow promotion favourites Worcester. Robinson was the match-winner with two late penalties. 11. Mason Rosvall (Canterbury) – The Kent side did not have the season they were hoping for but Rosvall was a constant performer scoring 19 tries in total and a hat-trick against Clifton. 12. Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester) – The England centre sparked the Cherry and Whites’ stunning revival against Newcastle with the second of his two tries. The first was a gem too. 13. Robert Connelly (Birmingham & Solihull) – The Bees did what they had to do claiming a bonus-point win at Otley, in which Connelly was outstanding, but Luctonians’ late try meant they were still relegated in the end. 14. Stefan Hawley (Cinderford) – What an escape from Cinderford who secured their place in NL1 with a stunning bonus-point win against Esher. Hawley kicked things off with two tries in the opening 12 minutes. 15. Gary Kingdom (Taunton) – The Titans full-back ended the season as the most prolific point scorer in English rugby with 312 points. That’s six tries, 69 conversions, 47 penalties and one drop-goal at the end of 30 rounds.

200 Club Winners The winners from last Saturday’s 200 Club Draw are listed below. Congratulations to all.

1st Prize - £1250: Bill Jackson (Ticket No. 10, sold by Trevor Price (wins £50)) 2nd Prize - £600: Mike Winnell (Ticket No. 181) 3rd Prize - £300: Tony Rouse (Ticket No. 50) 4th Prize - £150: Ben Davies (Ticket No. 71) 6 Runner-Up Prizes - £110: Ms D. Brown (Ticket No. 1), R. Hawnt (Ticket No. 33), B. Mcevoy (Ticket No.53), Jon Miles (Ticket No. 110), Ryan Jordan (Ticket No. 38) & Chris Jacques (Ticket No. 172)

Reports from last Saturday’s Great Escape

Event Report from Geoff Vickress:

"Tense", "Edgy", "Nervy", the atmosphere was definitely at a different level on Saturday last, before and during the game v Leicester Lions. It could be said that this was also the case for some of the gentlemen who chose to be screened by the Herefordshire Prostate Cancer Trust (HPCA). The trust, now making this a regular appointment at the club, once again offered a service where with a blood test can give an indication of state of health of the prostate. Where the results do not provide a definitive that one may have the disease, they do advise that all the usual signs associated with prostate problems should also be considered and if in any doubt strongly advise that you visit your GP. The test itself is painless and gives a PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) reading which based on one's age and value gives an indicator and advisory figure which of a specific value can be discussed with the trust or again with your GP.

Chairman Sam Whiteman took charge of the Draw, and the Club were pleased to hand over to the trust in excess of £1300.

During the match, which I am sure you all now know by now we WON...many wits gave their views on the game, the occasion and anything else they felt free to give their views upon and I quote below some of the more printable ones.

As you all know Norm "retires" to a life behind the bar at The Bateman, and Tomo's speech of thanks to him was about spot on.. His liberal use of the word "mystery" about sums it all up.. you just didn't know what take Norm would have in any situation. Sometimes it was just "a mystery" ..Hopefully the article from the last weeks match programme giving an insight into his colourful Luc's career will be included in full in this weeks Lucsline... Also he should be persuaded to write his memoirs, there are sure to be many tales similar to his story about the postman seeing him perform his early morning ablutions through the broken window of his outside toilet..!!

Chris Jacques also took the opportunity on Saturday to hang up his boots after 13 years of first team endeavours, and as per normal gave his all on the field before being "subbed" to a rousing standing ovation from the massive crowd.

Estimates from the gate takings and head counts put the crowd at over a 1000 and they were certainly in good voice towards the end of the game, this after Norm took the microphone and

demanded "noise" and "plenty of it" when we were 9-12 behind with ten minutes to go. Sponsors please note, you may have to fork out for a fresh advertising board as they took a hammering, especially when Joe "Hero" Doyle dived over with a couple of minutes to go to give us the victory required.

The bar ran out of ale, as those present drank to celebrate this great result for the club. Smithy was sent to town to replenish supplies as the barrels ran dry, the Luc's lollipop lady danced and the atmosphere was a complete reversal from the "tense, edgy, nervy" air that was prominent at the beginning of the match.

Now for some of those quotes.. Chairman Sam: " credit to the players and the coaches, many played in the first game of this season and are still here at the last. The coaches stuck to their beliefs and didn't bring in all new faces. What's more pleasing that some of the players have come through from the "nappy ranks" to represent the club which proves we must be doing the right thing.."

Marf .." our expansive front row held Leicester at bay..". . he didn't say "expensive"

Joe "Hero" Doyle : ".. and all I could think was "don't drop it, don't drop it"

Anonymous local businessman..: "Bill Wiggins should have been here"..(Bill Wiggins being our local MP of course)

Anonymous Head of Youth Sport "I am the Club Stud !! ".. we have to question his wisdom in saying this to a man armed with a note pad and pen..

Anonymous local supporter " we want topless bar staff"...Not sure if he meant at the Club or at some seedy place he frequents elsewhere.

Birmingham Solihull.." Birmingham & Solihull delivered their part of the bargain in spades (by winning), but news that Luctonians had squeezed out a narrow 14-12 home win against Leicester Lions meant we are relegated to National League 3."..... whatever do they mean.. "squeezed, it was never in doubt"

Date to remember: Colts play next Sunday 3rd May in North Midlands Cup Final v Moseley at Halesonians: Norms last game coaching with the Colts, and for the time being Ali Waugh, who also stands down as a coach after many years. Thanks guys, Good luck to all, let’s bring home some winners silverware.

And briefly, we should mention that "local" rivals Bridgnorth travel to Twickenham next weekend also to play Maidstone in the final of the Intermediate Cup Final. We wish them every success as Geoff Davies of Central Power brings his support to both ourselves and B'north on a regular basis.

Geoffers

Squad from last Saturday’s 14-12 victory

Joe Doyle scores the winner in the 77th minute

Chris Jacques leaves the field for the final time

Requiem For a Small Time Team

This inspiring article was published on a website called El Sporting Times on the Thursday before the game, getting the hairs on the back of many players necks to stand on the morning of the game.

Some of the best stories are not about success but about survival.

And today Luctonians, by any metric the smallest side in National League rugby, stand on the precipice.

Win on Saturday and they survive as a National Two side, lose and the village team from the western-most wilds of the Midlands would once again fall into rugby obscurity.

Their place at rugby’s top table seems at first glance like a mistake.

In an era when lower league players shuffle around clubs for accommodation, gym membership and the ever-fattening brown envelopes, or are relocated by Premiership paymasters on the promise of increased game time, Lucs stands alone.

The squad is drawn almost exclusively from the local area, a North Herefordshire farming community with dirt under its fingernails.

Every other week they head up the A4112 to face the likes of Chester, Hull and Huddersfield - northern powerhouses in relative terms.

And yet week after week they compete, and they win.

This year has been the toughest the club has faced since climbing to the heights of National Two in 2010.

A run up the leagues built on the broad backs of the tightest of tight fives, has given way to a younger squad as even the strongest shoulders and knees began to lose the fight against Father Time.

Among the highest-scoring sides on the hard tracks of September and early-October, this year’s squad toiled through the mid-season mud.

Defeat followed defeat during a brutal spell, among the worst in the club’s history.

For a short while the windswept paddocks of Mortimer Park looked and felt bleaker than they had in years.

And yet with the new year came new hope. Injuries, so often the bane of a squad whose depth frequently cedes the upper hand to their opposition, helped the coaches settle on a series of combinations that would form the spine of a late-season bid for safety.

An undersized Anglo-Gallic midfield outmatched opposition with speed and heart, a former captain paired up with a former colt in the engine room, and narrow losses became narrow wins.

Off the back of just one loss in five, against the league leaders, Lucs go into the final day - a do or die encounter with mid table Leicester Lions - with their fate once again in their own hands.

While there are few certainties surrounding that game, one thing is beyond doubt - a whole community will be out in force to support the boys from Mortimer Park.

More than 100 made the journey to Birmingham, out-numbering and out-singing the home fans in their closest thing to a derby game last month. Seventy travelled to Otley last week, handing the Yorkshire club its biggest bar tab of the year.

Following a last-gasp win, over a relocated Harrogate, the team bus followed suit in the celebrations.

There were no paycheques to be collected by the players after the final whistle, just jugs on jugs of warm beer bought by the old boys.

If every team believes at some point during each season that its spirit and fraternity is unrivalled, then Lucs can lay claim to, at worst, a unique dynamic, and at best a special bond slightly out of step with this new semi-pro lower league world.

Team busses don’t stop long at Mortimer Park. Many don’t stay for post-match awards, shuffling to their bus in Canterbury polos.

The home side will be there long after they leave, led during and after the game by their totemic, bearded skipper.

On the road, more often than not, these same throwbacks, these pirates, have been the last men standing in the opposition clubhouse loading up for the long journey as underage bar maids wipe tables in an otherwise-deserted bar.

No player who plays at this level should have his reasons questioned. Every man gives a part of himself when he steps on that field, offering up his lungs, his legs, his heart for a greater cause, week after week.

However there is something at once purer and dirtier about this corner of North Herefordshire.

And National League rugby is richer for having them part of it.

Luctonians 1st XV 14 – 12 Leicester Lions Leicester arrived at Mortimer Park early and determined to upset the Hosts ‘Great Escape’ party, and a physical encounter ensued. Luctonians eventually capitalised on sustained pressure to score the all-important try in the 77th minute.

Although the hosts started brightly the physicality and line-speed that Lions employed from the off soon meant possession was theirs. They worked the ball to the left and prolific winger Devon Constant went over in the corner.

Luctonians toiled hard for the remainder of the half, but never looked like making a decisive line break. Their ball retention was however rewarded with penalty opportunities and Geraint Langdon duly convert two of three to leave the halftime score poised at 6-5.

Buoyed on by the four figure home crowd Luctonians started the second half the brighter and Langdon soon added a further three.

Leicester then responded with a direct attack that saw burly centre Steven Cross score close to the uprights. The conversion was added 9 -10.

With the last quarter of the game approaching Lucs threw on their bench to good effect. Leicester were once again conceding penalties under the sustained pressure, and Referee Luke Haskins reduced them to 14 on two occasions.

Eventually Lucs’ tight play in the 22 m tied in enough defenders for the ball to be spread wide for Joe Doyle to go in un-touched. The conversion was missed, but the job was now done as the Home team held on to claim a 14-12 victory and their National Two North status for another season.

Alex Davidson

Luctonians U16 27 – 27 Telford U16s

As a game, this was a bit like a McDonalds Cheeseburger with large fries and a mega Coke. ie Something to look forward to, very tasty in parts, but ultimately a bit of a let down.

The Game finished Lucs 27 - 27 Telford, and the trophy was shared. Probably neither team deserved to lose, but at 27 -15 up and five minutes to play, this was a game that sadly slipped away. Telford were ecstatic with the result, our boys were despondent. This only goes to show however how far the team have come in the last 18 months or so, and they are now rightly one of the best outfits around, and proved it on Sunday.

Highlights of the day were some cracking scores by the boys - two from Rhys, three from Degsy, plus a shedload of commitment and discipline from the whole side.

Lowpoints of the day were the shambolic end to the game, when the Whitchurch Club Chairman presented the Trophy to Telford, having been given the wrong score, and the post match burgers, which were frankly poor.

Trip Advisor Hostility rating for Whitchurch RFC is therefore only four out of ten, taking into account the score cock-up and the soggy chip and burger story, plus the extortionate entry fee - five quid a person! Also it's an awfull long way to go. Whitchurch is in fact so far North that we spotted a couple of "vote Nicola Sturgeon" election posters on the way back.

Going back to the game itself, complements to the Ref, who was fair and consistent, and quite rightly binned two Telford players for potty mouth language and repeated infringements. Also to the Telford Coaching staff who agreed that 27-27was the final score, not 28-26 to Telford. I suspect the confusion may in fact be all caused by Degsy who, despite scoring three times, was officially (according to the cocked-up programme notes) playing for both sides.

Anyway, let’s not be too gloomy. Going forward there is plenty of good news. as follows: - The whole team played terrifically and were unlucky not to win. - There is great promise for next year’s junior Colts - Mad Manager Martin may be poached by another local Rugby Club.

Nibbler

Gwernyfed U14 21 – 28 Lucs U14

Four days after a bruising North Mids Cup Final we took who was available or fit over for an evening match at Gwernyfed.

A total of 19 players made the journey across (special mention to Lewis Parkes as it’s a hell of a long way from Church Stretton on a school night) and were met by a team focused on inflicting as much pressure on us as we have received all season.

A very hard fought encounter on an even harder playing surface followed. Our forwards were winning the battle up front but Gwernyfed had a couple of electric backs who were very difficult to stop once they got moving.

The score ebbed and flowed all night and with 8 minutes left we were losing 21 – 14, but as is renowned now with this group of players they will never lie down and powered their way to a win which was greeted by some of the loudest loud cheers from the traveling parents this season.

A great game of rugby, played by 2 teams who gave everything.

Special mention must go to the 2 wingers tonight – Lewis Lloyd & Lucas Gwilliam who bravely stood firm following captain Aaron’s message of “though shall not pass”

Just a North Wales tour left now guys next week.

CT

And Finally....

No joke this week I am afraid, just a tribute to Norm for the years of service to this club.

The views expressed in Lucsline are those of the contributing authors and may not reflect the opinion of Luctonians Sports Club.