LUCTONIANS will be breathing a huge sigh of relief after narrowly beating a very game Hornets side 22-19 in a very hotly contested game at Mortimer Park.

Hornets had led and looked good value for a victory against the home side, who were very slow out of the blocks.

Hornets led early on when number eight Don Farmer was driven over after only two minutes, Jamie Elswood converting and it looked ominous for the home side early doors.

However, Lucs slowly got themselves back into the game and picked up their first points when Jamin Hodgkins knocked over a routine penalty after nine minutes to reduce the deficit.

Defence was the key for both sides and the score board remained quiet until Hornets wing Huw Morgan was put away, following some clever footwork by their fullback Charlie Carter, to dot down in the corner with the conversion being missed (3-12).

And that was as good as it got for both sides for the balance of the first half.

Both sides created chances, but often both sides were guilty of handling errors and opportunities to give away penalties, with defences on top when there were opportunities to add to their tally.

Lucs introduction of substitute Jack Goodwin at half-time gave them an immediate kick start.

The hosts had a 25-minute purple patch where Hornets could not cope with their intensity.

The home sides scrum was dominant, and Hornets conceded penalties giving the home side chance to kick deep into the Hornets 22.

And it was from a close-in driving maul on 43 minutes that Lucs captain and man of the match, Ben Link dived over to add to his regular try tally, the conversion was missed, but it dragged the deficit back to four points.

When centre Rob Bengry crashed over seven minutes later following excellent work by the charging Owien Harriot-Davis, the home side lead for the first time at 15-12, Hodgkins converting.

And it was only minutes later that Ben Link again was drubbing the ball down again over the whitewash, once again converted by Hodgkin to give the home side a 22-12 lead, and they were beginning to look comfortable.

However, Hornets back line, with fullback Charlie Carter pulling the strings, started to give the home side the jitters.

And it was no surprise when they scored the try of the game when a very smart move created by Charlie Carter, put away their galloping No7 Corey Baker who fed their scrum half Hayden Tuttiet to score by the posts, Elswood converting to see the score at 22-19 with 10 minutes to go.

The mist and darkness was descending, and Lucs rode their luck as time ran out, with Hornets winning penalty after penalty to drive towards the home sides tryline.

However, the hosts were grateful for a last-minute error by their opponents to give them a win. Luctonians remain second in this ultra-competitive league and have a long-distance trip next week to top of the table Cambourne.