Olney defeated by Luton

LUTON vs. OLNEY, Sat. 14th. Aprl. 2018.
Olney travelled south on Saturday to fulfil their penultimate league fixture of the season against Luton. The home side, second in the table were hoping to achieve a result to take them up a division.
The visitors kicked off and the early exchanges took play back and forth, mainly in midfield. Until Luton won possession from a lineout and ran the ball in their backs to touch down, wide out. There was no conversion. Luton 5. Olney 0. (5 mins.). From the restart kick Luton counter attacked to take play up to the Olney goal line. They achieved another try, again not converted, increasing their lead to 10 - 0. (13 mins.)
Olney were obliged to raise their game and were rewarded when they ran the ball, from a free kick. Graham Smith touched down for a try and Kieran Manson added the conversion to put the visitors on the scoreboard 10 - 7 after 19 mins.
A penalty in front of goal gave Luton their next score, the kick was on target, 13 -7 ( 24 mins.).
Play continued with frequent stoppages and a magnetic attraction of the clubhouse side touch line. Luton were denied the services of their blind side flanker who took the impact of the not inconsiderable bulk of Olney Player/coach, Phil Powell. In the time added for physio's attention, Luton added to their score with two more tries, one converted. Luton 25. Olney 7.
HALF TIME SCORE: LUTON 25. OLNEY 7.
For the second half Olney took off Phil Powell, Gareth Cahill and Cam Kok, replaced by subs. Ross Herbert, Matt Shotton and Peter T.G.
Luton resumed in point scoring mode, adding a converted try to take their score to 32 - 7 ( 6 mins.). Olney hadn't given up , from the restart kick they scored a try gaining the ball by their forwards following up and using their three's to break the Luton defence. Brandon Kerr scored , no conversion, Luton 32 - Olney 12.
From the kick off Olney were awarded a penalty in their '22', they kicked to touch for a lineout on halfway. Awarded a further penalty they opted to run the ball but lost it in a tackle. Luton kicked to touch but the visitor's won the ball from the ensuing lineout . This prompted a fracas between the two packs, and a touch of 'handbags'. The referee produced his yellow card and two players were invited to leave the pitch, one from each side! Play continued but was interrupted by a myriad of stoppages. At one stage Olney were awarded a consecutive series of five penalties against Luton. However the home side added a converted try to extend their lead to 39 - 12 (34 mins.)
Luton attempted to launch an attack, kicking for their left wing three-quarter to run on to. Olney winger Marcus Goss showed good anticipation to intercept and claim the ball on halfway. He threaded his way through the Luton cover and touched down for an unconverted try. Score: 39 - 17 ( 40 mins.)
Luton took advantage of the ten minutes added time to add two more converted tries to their tally.
FULL TIME SCORE: LUTON 53. OLNEY 17.
TEAM: Graham Smith, Jim Osborn (capt.) Jeremiah Shields, Christian Caswell, Cam Kok
Ryan Hammett, Gareth Carhill, Isaac Shields
Kieran Manson, Phil Powell
Marcus Goss, Brandon Kerr, Hamish Bull, Jake Deighton, Eliot Simpson
SUBS. Ross Herbert, Matt Shotton, Peter T.G.

TEAM SPONSOR: DESMOND J. SMAIL LTD.