LUCS 40 VS 31 EXE STUDENTS
LUCS TREAT HOME CROWD TO AN EXCITING GAME
Luctonians RFC vs Exeter University RFC
Saturday 17th January 2026
Match Report by Geoff Vickress
A dreary Herefordshire afternoon was cheered up no end by an entertaining game with the home side beating a very competitive Exeter Uni side 6 tries to 4.
Lucs were on the score sheet first after 11 minutes when their forwards dominance in the Exeter danger zone set up Bryn Goodall to run through and touch down, kicking his own conversion for an early 7-0 advantage. However, the pace of the Exeter back line troubled the home side, and it was no surprise when their fullback Dewi Thomas broke through the defensive line to dot down, Freddie Hirst converting to level the scores at 7-7.
James Wheeler scored a superb effort when their driving maul drove the Uni side backwards, a superb pass from Jonty Monk put Wheeler away to skin their defense to score, Goodall converting to put the home side back in front (14-7) after 25 minutes. But it was short lived as the pacy Josh Clark for Exeter scored from almost halfway shortly after reducing the score to 14-14. Lucs Caleb Montgomery stormed through after being put away by Goodall to put the home side back in front in what was becoming a real topsy-turvy encounter on 33 minutes, Goodall converted (21-14) but Universities wing Clark scored another opportunist effort when the skillful Thomas put him a away on the stroke of half time for what, with the Thomas conversion, was a score leveler as the teams went in for their cup of tea at 21 points each
Half Time Score
Luctonians RFC 21 vs 21 Exeter University RFC
The home support was nervously pondering what might happen second half as this was a tight encounter with both sides looking equally dangerous in attack, and it was the introduction of Jack Goodwin at No8 that gave the home side the impetus they were looking for. His powerhouse ball in hand direct forward runs started to put the University boys on the back foot, and it was no surprise when he scored on the hour, not before Thomas had notched a penalty for Exeter to put them in the lead 21-24. Goodwins try, converted by Tom Jones, put the home side back in front 28-24 and from there it gave the home side a base to work from and stretch their advantage. Lucs wing Rob Aikman stretched his legs and his arms to reach out and score shortly afterwards, Jones kicking an excellent conversion from the byline (35-24) on 65 minutes. The students kept the home side honest with a prolonged period of forward pressure, resulting in Bob Bray seeing yellow for the hosts. Exeter’s tenacity was rewarded when Archie Kane eventually scored after being camped on Lucs tryline for some time, Thomas again converting to bring the score within a converted try difference at 35-29 after 73 minutes. But Aikman again came up trumps for the home side when he was at the bottom of a driven maul almost vocally cheered over by the vociferous home crowd moments later to round off what was an entertaining game and maintains their challenge at the top of the league. Final score Lucs 40 Exeter University 31.
Lucs travel to Hornets next weekend with Exeter at home to Chester
Full Time Score
Luctonians 40 v 31 Exeter University
Luctonians Man of the Match – Jack Goodwin
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