Evans praises Luton RFC’s work-rate in latest defeat

Luton RFC are still searching for their first London One North victory of the season after a 15-6 defeat at Chingford on Saturday.

Although the result made it nine straight defeats for the Newlands Road side, assistant manager Steve Evans was full of praise for his side.

He said: “I think for the first time in a good while, all of the lads gave 100 per cent, and you can’t really ask for much more than that.

“Weare in a rebuild and if they put the heart in that they put in, they will start to get results.

“The wind picked up in the second half which didn’t help, but to be frank, there is some fitness work they can do and I think some of the lads need to take accountability for their own fitness levels.

“It’s very easy to look at the results and be really downhearted about it, but I don’t believe for one second that this is going to continue.

“Once we sort out a few of the injuries and play with the same passion that we showed, it will turn around.”

The hosts gained the upper hand as they piled on the pressure from the start, being held off just beyond the try line and eventually got a penalty for offside 10 minutes in, which Benjamin Bolton-Smith scored to make it 3-0.

Luton responded well though, pressuring Chingford until they eventually got a penalty which Rick Hobbs scored to equalise, although Connor O’Neil picked up a nasty shoulder injury along the way.

Following the penalty, Chingford enjoyed a good spell of possession, but Luton were stubborn in defence, not allowing them to get over, as the ball spent a good amount of time at the 5m line.

However, Luton won the scrum five minutes from half time and managed to clear it well, giving them a line-out in a very dangerous area, which they took advantage of as they began to attack.

It was not until the last minute of the first half that the visitors won a penalty as a Chingford player kicked the ball out of the scrum half’s hands, Hobbs scoring once more to end the first half 6-3 in front.

The second period was a different story, as the wind began to grow stronger; the game became harder for Luton and they ended up defending for the majority of the half.

In the 52nd minute, Matthew Yang received a yellow card for slowing the ball down which did not help Luton in their attempt to halt Chingford.

Eventually the hosts got through the Luton defence, taking full advantage of the extra man at the hour mark, as Bhol got over, with Daniel Boughtwood kicking the extras, while Awobowale spinted over late on.

Luton travel to North Walsham away next Saturday.