LUCTONIANS started their National Legue 2 West campaign with a well deserved 17-27 victory away against Hinckley. 

However, it was the hosts who scored first after a Louis Hayley kick ricocheted off a number of feet before popping into the hands of centre Rory Vowles, who offloaded smartly for Matt Guilfoyle to crash over. Vowles missed the conversion but the hosts lead 5-0.

Lucs responded almost immediately and their dominant secured a penalty in the Hinckley 22 and debutant full-back Jamin Hodgkins duly knocked over to bring the scores within two on nine minutes.

 However, for the rest of the first half both defences largely sniffed out the scraps both attacks were working with, and all there was to note for the remainder of the half was two long-range penalties from Vowles on 15 and 29 minutes to extend the lead to 11-3 at the break.

A completely different Luctonians side came out after the interval, as the visitors got on top in the opening stages of the half and scored two tries in nine minutes.

Firstly, through flanker James Mear, who won the race to a deft little chip over from Owen Randell, and the second from lock Conor Geraghty, who buried over at the base of the posts after sustained waves of pressure. With Hodgkins adding both conversions, the Herefordshire men lead 11-17.

The hosts responded with back-to-back penalties for high tackles in Luctonian territory which allowed Vowles to bring it to 17-17, with Lucs prop Dave Whiting seeing yellow for the second of these infringements.

But despite being down a man, Lucs first re-took the lead and then killed the game off with a Hodgkins penalty after an offside offence, to lead 17-20, before fellow debutant Jack Park dotted down after a kick through was spilt by the retreating Hinckley defender for 17-27 on 72 minutes.

 Ryan Watkins’ have another stern away test this coming weekend, as they travel to Cinderford, fresh from their relegation from the league above last season.