Luctonians vs. Preston Grasshoppers – Kick Off 2.15pm
Preston Grasshoppers head south on Saturday to the countryside setting of Mortimer Park, the home of Luctonians RUFC for what will be their longest journey of the season. A supporters coach will be heading for the same venue, albeit with the compulsory lunch stop en-route. Anyone wishing to travel with them to this most unique of rugby venues, the fare will be £20 with the coach departing at 8:30am from Lightfoot Green. The organisers wish to add that the trip will definitely be running!
The visitors will be boosted by the support of those making the journey and also mindful that the four remaining games of 2019 may well go a long way to defining their fate come the end of April. Both teams currently above them in the table being their next opponents with a trip to Otley and the return fixture against Fylde the other two.
Luctonians and our next visitors Hull leap-frogged above Hoppers after victories last Saturday, dropping us to just one place ahead of bottom club Scunthorpe.
With the season not yet half way through, Hoppers find them selves in a familiar position for this time of the year in National Two North. Last season they managed to turn things around and finish in a respectable position, but wont need reminding the outcome of the previous season in this division!
Last Saturday their old failing returned once again. On how many occasions this season have we seen them aimlessly kicking away possession only to find themselves standing behind their posts a few seconds later? Against the Students, having gamely forced themselves back into the match during the second half, a losing bonus point went a begging during the closing minutes.
Hoppers have had mixed fortunes at Mortimer Park in the few fixtures played there between the two sides. After losing on their first two visits they managed to first draw one before gaining their first victory back in 2013. Since then Hoppers have lost on two occassions and won another.
Having moved through the Midland’s Leagues, Luctonians are currently playing in their ninth season at this level. Our hosts were relegated from N2N the year after ourselves, returning this season from a year in the Midlands Premier League after defeating Blaydon in the end of season play off game.
Luctonians currently sit one place above ourselves thanks to picking up points from their last five outings, most notably their most recent home game against Fylde and a comprehensive victory over bottom side Scunthorpe last Saturday whilst Hoppers inability to pick up any points since victory over Stourbridge sees them in their current dilemma.
The full record of meetings between the two clubs reads six victories to Preston Grasshoppers whilst our hosts have recorded seven plus the one previously mentioned drawn fixture at Mortimer Park.
Team News
1. Noah MILLER
2. Chris TAYLOR
3. John BLANCHARD
4. Ally MURRAY
5. Sam WALLBANK
6. Ryan CARLSON
7. Toby HARRISON
8. Matt LAMPREY
9. James GOUGH (C)
10. Ben DORRINGTON
11. Scott JORDAN
12. Sam STOTT
13. Alex HURST
14. Tyler SPENCE
15. Jordan DORRINGTON
REPLACEMENTS: 16. O. MABAYA, 17. PJ. MILLEA, 18. L. PROCTER, 19. J. SQUIRRELL, 20. N. GREGSON
