Broadstreet 27 pts Luctonians 7

LUCTONIANS' disappointing away form in Powergen Midlands 1 continued with a 20-point defeat to a Broadstreet side they had beaten 33-15 at home earlier in the season.

The Coventry side adapted better to the strong wind and slippery conditions and, in fly-half John Smart, had a player who dictated the pace of the match with a judicious mixture of the running and kicking game.

Smart put his side into the lead with an early penalty and added a second in the 15th minute.

The Broadstreet pack provided clean possession from the set pieces and disrupted Luctonians' own possession, giving scrum-half Steve Saint an uncomfortable ride.

Smart continued his dominance with a third penalty and then, from scrum possession, made a half break to put centre Andrew Watts in under the posts. Smart added the conversion and at the interval Broadstreet were 16-0 ahead and very much in control.

Any hopes of a Luctonians second-half recovery were quickly dashed as they conceded a penalty within a minute of the restart, allowing Smart to kick his fourth goal.

When Luctonians did get possession, they spilled the ball too often and could not match Broadstreet's tenacity in winning the 50-50 balls.

Broadstreet continued to apply the pressure and pinched possession from a Luctonians' scrum on the try line for flanker Andy Nightingale to score their second try. Smart proved his fallibility by missing the difficult conversion but he made amends in the 26th minute with his fourth and final penalty.

Luctonians did snatch a late try through flanker Nick Hamer and Andy Garrod converted but at the finish they were a well-beaten side.

Luctonians have not won a league match on the road since the beginning of October and, with trips to Laurentians, Spalding and Walsall still remaining, another three away losses would threaten a mid-table finish.