Bournville discovered why Luctonians are top of National Two West as they were shut out in a slog in the Herefordshire mud at Kingsland.
Bournville got full marks for commitment, effort and enterprise but they could not break down a solid Luctonians defence even though the hosts played the last 63 minutes with 14 men after lock Owien Harriott-Davis was sent off for a head-high tackle on Alex Evans.
Luctonians reorganised effectively after Harriott-Davis departed, soaked up the pressure and were clinical attack, scoring each time they had a sniff of the line and they banked another bonus point win.
Conditions were difficult for both sides with the pitch having thawed just enough to be deemed playable after a series of morning inspections.
Although still frozen underneath after several nights of sharp frosts, the surface had softened just enough to satisfy the officials and both teams that it was safe to play. But by half time the pitch had churned to mud which made it difficult for Bournville to play quick and expansive rugby.
“Every time Luctonians got in our red zone they scored, every time we got in that 22-zone we didn’t convert,” said Head Coach Matt Price.
“That’s the difference and that’s why they sit top of the table.
“I thought the rest of the field and our efforts and our hunger to get round the corner and on the outside of their fourth guy and to keep the ball alive was outstanding. We just need to convert when we have the chance.
“There were a couple of aimless kicks in the first-half from which we didn’t win field position or win possession back.
“Ultimately, as I said to the group at the end, we can’t knock the effort there were some big performances in there. I thought Louis Mifsud carried well and banged about and there was good impact off the bench from Josh Bloomfield.
“But on a pitch like that if you don’t convert and win your set piece at the lineout you are going to be under pressure.
“I thought our scrum was good and solid and we had them there but if you don’t win your lineout then you are going to battle.”
All of Luctonians’ first three tries stemmed from lost Bournville lineouts with wing Jimmy Wheeler and hooker Ben Link capitalising before the break and centre Rob Aikman scoring nine minutes into the second-half.
Loosehead prop Connor Deignan was driven over the bonus point try after 54 minutes and although Bournville enjoyed long periods of possession there were few clear-cut scoring opportunities with a speculative long-range penalty from Jacob Fewtrell that drifted wide in the first-half the best chance. For the first time this season Bournville failed to score a point.
“Alex Grove made a good point in the changing room afterwards,” Price said.
“This Luctonians side have been together for six, seven, ten years. Louis Silver is leaving after being here for nine or ten years.
“We have been together for just 16 games, so it’s a big difference. I have to credit the boys for sticking in there and battling well.
“I’m disappointed it was a nil. It shouldn’t have been a nil and it didn’t feel like a nil but we didn’t convert.”
Through the Viewfinder
Lee Sullivan