Luton RFC are Barking with joy

Captain Tom Mahendran returned to the squad after missing last week’s game and making his full debut was Romanian Alex Comanescu.

The game’s early of action saw Barking’s number 8 Ryan Keates pick up a yellow card and Luton made their man advantage count by scoring the first try through Sam Pacey.

Rick Hobbs converted, but Barking wasted no time hitting back as in the eighth minute, Thomas Bateman went over.

The visitors went further ahead through fly half 
Aaron Higgins with Benjamin Lloyd extending their lead to 12-7.

However Newlands Road favourite Tesh Edwards used his pace to skip past the scrambling Barking backline and touched down.

Hobbs’ kicking proved to be much better than in previous weeks and from a difficult angle restored the home side’s advantage at 14-12.

On 23 minutes, Luton’s Craig South’s tenacity saw him fend off two players to power over, with Hobbs’ boot making it 21-12.

With seven minutes left, full back Scott Aspinall was sent to the sin bin for foul play and Garry Jahn gave way to debutant Sean Meddeman after he received a blow to the head.

After the break, Hobbs extended the gap with a penalty, but Barking had a try as Thomas Bateman went over.

Try scorer South was substituted for Ryan Sheppard in the 63rd minute and not long after, Chris Davies accelerated to the try line.

His score was complemented by a successful conversion kick by Mahendran.

Barking narrow the deficit when Keates bundled over the try line and Lloyd stepped up to score the conversion, butLuton held on.

Captain Tom Mahendran said: “I’m over the moon. We fought so hard. This was probably our best performance all season.”

Speaking on new signing Alex Comenescu, Mahendran added: “He adds a lot of pace and power in the centre which is exactly what we needed.”

Luton travel to Old Priorians this weekend.