Maderi’s pace the difference as Luton RFC win at Thurrock

The contest was an ill-tempered contest that threatened to boil over on numerous occasions, but Luton dug in to make it four victories in a row.

The opening 10 minutes offered little, as both sides sized each other up, before Luton went ahead.

Logan Wendt crossed the whitewash following great skill from Jonathan Wright and Rick Hobbs’ conversion made it 7-0.

Jack Barrad’s 16th minute penalty brought Thurrock back into contention, before Maderi put on the turbo charges to show the home defence a clean pair of heels.

Hobbs kicked the extras to make it 14-3, but Thurrock cut the deficit once more when Barrad slotted over a penalty.

They were even closer soon afterwards, as James Millson touched down from a driving maul as his side trailed 14-11.

After the break, Stuart Tomkinson replaced Tyrone Ashton with Adam Harris moving to the back-line.

The freshness was evident as Tomkinson muscled his way through to score, as although Hobbs missed his kick, Luton led 19-11.

On 50 minutes Luton’s second row, Tom Albone returning from a long-term ligament injury, replacing Garry Jahn as Barrad added another penalty to makeit 19-14.

On the hour mark came the game’s main talking point, as the referee sent Tomkinson and Edwards to the sin-bin along with one for Thurrock.

The hosts then hit back to level the scores as from a melee, they bundled over, although Barrad’s kicking crucially let him down.

Once again though it was to be Maderi’s searing pace that sealed the points as he raced away to score what turned out to be the winning try, making 24-19.

Luton host Ruislip this weekend.

For the reaction of head coach Darren Moore, see the News/Gazette on sale now.