Good conditions again at Portway again -it won't last!
More or less the first 15 lined up for a match up with Luctonians. First meeting since the 2015 NMC Final.
Luctonians start Bees securing possession before Luctonians offend at the second ruck. Bees run the penalty making ground first up to halfway and then the 22. 3 more drives later and the ball goes out to Kamil lurking in midfield to go over. Noah Converts for 7-0 2 minutes in.
Luctonians restart and Bees take recycling up to near halfway. Noah spots a gap and goes through rounding the fullback and out paces the defending winger to score. Noah converts for 14-0 4 minutes in.
Luctonians start but Bees knock on in contact near the second ruck. Luctonians secure possession from the scrum and pick up at 8, recycling initially before offending at the next ruck. Bees kick for field position to near Luctonians 22. Lineout possession secured, ball recycled and out to Kamil for his second. Noah converts for 21-0 9 minutes in.
Luctonians start and Bees secure possession recycling up the middle before Noah sees another gap in the defence to go through for his second. Noah converts for 28-0 11 minutes in.
Luctonians start and Bees secure possession and move up to halfway before Noah chips the defence. Luctonians secure possession and get to halfway before going offside at the breakdown. Bees run, Noah goes through and a great pass back inside to a supporting Corry sees him go over. Noah converts for 35-0 on 14 minutes. A truly blistering start to the game. 15 minutes of power and precision during which Luctonians had ball in hand twice.
Bees start to make changes and the game starts to tighten up. Some great competition and high penalty counts for both sides making it all quite frentic. Bees defensive line a little too eager today and penalised regularly throughout the game. Most action between the respective 22's but only Bees penetrating into the 22. Bees making it to within 5m once but securing the only other score for the half from a lineout in the Luctonians 22. Clean ball, short maul and popped out to Lewis H to attack down the blindside and go over in the corner. 40-0 32 minutes in.
Luctonians restart and Bees control the ball well making headway before sending the ball out wide. Ground made into the 22 before being taken into touch to close out the first half.
Bees start the second half, with several more substitutions after a number in the first half all 12 available replacements were able to get plenty of game time. Luctonians initially secured possession before spilling the ball in midfield. Bees secure the loose ball and recycle well before a late tackle gives them a penalty. Ball kicked deep into the 22 for a lineout. Ball secured from the lineout and a charge from Lewis H sees him through. 45-0 39 minutes in.
Credit Luctonians they had been competing well and got their reward. Initially getting possession from their lineout in Bees 22 but thwarted first time around with Bees recovering and making ground back to halway. A bees offside from a knock on getting Luctonians back to Bees 22. Before a not straight lineout gives possession back to Bees. Bees secure possession from the scrum but knock on in midfield. Luctonians 8 picks up from their scrum making a few yards deep in Bees 22. Good ball retention sees Luctonians go over in the corner for a hard earned score. 45-5 48 minutes in.
Bees restart and earn turnover ball and the first attack ends in a knock on and is brought back for a high tackle. Bees run from the penalty making ground centre field before going wide and eventually Cormac going over. 50-5 52 minutes in.
Luctonians restart but get the ball back when Bees are held up in midfield. Luctonians secure possession from their scrum and some controlled forward play sees them make steady progress into Bees 22. First attack thwarted as Luctonians are held up over the line. From the 5m scrum the expected 8 pick up didn't happen and the ball went into midfield where a good running line saw Luctonians through the defence an over. Converted for 50-12 57 minutes in.
Bees didn't like conceeding today and put in a further three scores to close out the game. First with Lewis B picking up at 8 and making yards in Luctonians 22 before off loading to Ben to step and go through. 55-12 61 minutes in. Lewis B going into and under the Luctonians defence from a 5m penalty. Aggy hits the post for 60-12 on 68 minutes. Josh closing out the game following a loose offload from Luctonians which goes to ground. Josh hacks through and manages to gather slipping a couple of tackles before going clear and the over. Aggy converts for a final 67-12 scoreline.
I don't think the scoreline flattered Bees but it doesn't do justice to the efforts from Luctonians. Overall a good game to watch but those first 15 minutes from Bees were what you hope for but rarely get to see.