Too little, too late as Luton slip to a second half pummelling

After a tightly-fought first half the game exploded into life in the second period, but it was Ruislip who would go on to take all four points.

The hosts welcomed back Tom Albone for his first competitive start since October along with Chris Davies.

There was also a recall for Craig South and Tom Mahendran who has been unavailable in recent weeks.

Adam Harris and Sean Meddeman dropped to the bench as did Rik Hobbs, who injured his shoulder against Thurrock and will be out for the foreseeable future.

Ruislip’s Connor Mullan’s opening penalty would provide a taster of his punting abilities as the fly half would complete a clean sweep of kicking attempts. Luton then did well to hold out after a 31st minute yellow card for Stuart Tomkinson.

Taking a 3-0 lead into the break, in the opening minute of the second half, Ruislip caught Luton napping and Josh Herne scorined
the game’s opening try, with Mullan’s conversion making it 10-0.

Stepping in for the injured Hobbs, Mahendran’s long range penalty attempt agonisingly struck the post.

Three minutes later Davies got his name on the scoreboard, well teed up by Tabo Maderi.

Mahendran would be tested from long range once again but this time the 24-year-old brought Luton to within three points of level terms.

Maderi proved he has much more to offer than just lightning speed as the full-back made two valuable try saving tackles to deny Ruislip from extending their lead.

However, in the 62nd minute, Antonio Trofawas was unmarked after Ruislip had intelligently switched the ball from right to left, leaving the full back clear to secure a try.

A deflated Luton barely had time to regroup before Ruislip’s Joe Collins reacted quickest to a bobbling ball and showed tremendous pace and mobility to make it to the try line.

Mullan added the extras to make the score 24-7.

Ruislip grabbed their final try in the 72nd minute courtesy of Ben Broderick abd Mullan was there to put the icing on the cake.

In the final minute Mahendran scampered over for a try and took the conversion with the last kick, but it was too little too late.

Next up is a trip to Chingford on Saturday.

London One North Table

P W D L F A Pts

Colchester 21 20 0 1 942 228 99

Eton Manor 21 20 0 1 692 217 97

Chingford 21 14 0 7 451 360 64

Letchworth GC 20 12 0 8 612 352 63

Barking 21 10 0 11 589 485 59

North Walsham 20 11 1 8 526 407 57

Luton 20 10 1 9 415 425 51

Brentwood 21 9 0 12 400 468 48

Ruislip 19 8 0 11 561 550 43

Old Priorians 20 9 0 11 424 515 42

Thurrock 20 7 1 12 393 411 40

Romford & GP 20 3 2 15 273 683 20

Ipswich 20 2 1 17 276 743 19

Woodford 20 3 0 17 182 909 3