Evans relieved that Luton's misery is complete

Luton RFC assistant manager Steve Evans is happy the season is over after his side ended their London One North campaign with a 68-12 home defeat to Tring on Saturday.
Luton RFCLuton RFC
Luton RFC

The defeat was Luton’s 24th from 25 games in a thoroughly miserable campaign, that saw them relegated with just five points.

Evans said: “I’m glad for the players that the season is over because I think they need a break; it’s been the season from hell.

“These boys put their hearts, souls and bodies on the line and they need the rest more than anybody.

“The performance was everything it should’ve been.

“We knew were up against incredibly tough opposition and we thought it was going to be a lot worse than it actually was.”

Tring opened up the scoring in the eighth minute after their right wing Goss-Lambourne sprinted to the line, doing the same in the 13th minute with Ben Criddle adding both conversions.

Luton looked to threaten Tring on a few occasions but the ball remained in the visitors’ possession for the majority of the first half.

In the 23rd minute, Thomas Ward made his way through the Luton defence with ease and went over, Criddle adding the extras.

At the half hour mark, Tring inside centre John Preston barged his way over the line after some desperate defending from Luton, scoring the fourth and final try of the first half, going into the break with the score 26-0 as Criddle missed the conversion.

The second half didn’t begin well for the hosts with Tyler Chant sin-binned in the 42nd minute, leaving them one man down against a very strong Tring outfit, wh0 scored a penalty try in the 47th minute with Criddle kicking the extras.

Just three minutes later, Sam Clapham added another try to make it 47-0 with Criddle slotting the two points over once more.

Flying winger Ward then scored his second and third try of the game in the 52nd and 54th minute, proving too fast for Luton to handle, Criddle converting one to make it 54-0.

Despite the crushing scoreline, the hosts never gave up hope, and in the 62nd minute, they formed a maul and nearly got over the line. However, possession was fed out to Jonathan Wright who beat two men and grounded the ball, Rick Hobbs missing the conversion.

Just five minutes later, Luton gave the fans something extra to cheer about after setting up a superb catch and drive in an identical position to the last try and nearly sent it over the line again.

Another maul was formed and this time Jon Kerr went over to make it 54-12 with Hobbs converting.

The game fizzled out after Luton’s second try but Tring were still looking to add to their score and that they did after Christopher Rose notched two tries in the 76th and 80th minute, Criddle scoring the conversion to end the game 68-12.

Luton RFC prop Tom Garner now wants to help put things right next term, as he said: “The boys put 100 per cent in all the way through the game and didn’t give up.

“We were fantastic, we showed heart, spirit and put a bit of pride back in the badge.

“It’s been a long, tough season and it’s nice to be finally at the end of it

“We can’t wait to get back out there and put this season right again. We’re going to show the fans that turn up and watch us every weekend that we want this more than anything.

“We want to show that we don’t want to be a level seven club, we want to be level six or above.”

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