Old Haberdashers hammered by lethal Luton

Luton ran in nine tries as they routed bottom-of-the-table Old Haberdashers 55-9 at Newlands Road in London One North on Saturday, writes Adam Busfield.

Luton’s free-flowing rugby was too much for a spirited Haberdashers side in dreadful conditions, which saw a stoppage in play midway through the second half as the players took cover from a fierce hailstorm.

The hosts got off to the perfect start when debutant Chris Talanoa scored his first try for the club, when he had a free run to the try line as the visitors’ defence struggled to re-group following an initial brake from Tom Wilmore.

The visitors hit back in the ninth minute through a Brian Butterwick penalty after Luton were penalised for not releasing in the tackling.

However, it didn’t take long for Luton to extend their lead when just two minutes later Talanoa was in for his second as he brushed off some weak tackling to touch down next to the posts, although Rik Hobbs was again unsuccessful with the conversion.

Luton were in again on 21 minutes when Jake Hobbs found himself in space as he raced in from 20 meters out, with brother Rik kicking the conversion.

The hosts could have extended their lead further on 25 minutes, but Chris Davis spilled the ball with the try line begging.

Nevertheless, Luton didn’t have to wait long to add to their score as Ben Murphy crossed out wide after a strong driving maul had moved them close to the visitors’ line and Rik Hobbs’ conversion made it 24-3 at the break.

It was Haberdashers who got off to the better start to the second half as Butterwick added two successful penalties inside four minutes, but this was the only joy for the visitors as Luton’s skill and fitness proved pivotal as they ran away with the game during the second half.

Dave Brennan crossed for the first of five second half tries after some good work from Mark Tindall created room for Michael Weston, who fended off a few defenders before feeding Brennan to score out wide, although Jake Hobbs unsuccessful with his attempt at the extras.

Ryan Staff was the next to touch down as the big back-rower crashed through the visitors’ initial defensive line before racing 40 meters to score under the posts, with Talanoa successful with the easy conversion to take the score to 36-9 with 25 minutes to play.

Luton was running riot now and were in again three minutes later when centre Steve Ellis cut through the defensive line before feeding Wilmore to touch down out wide, with Talanoa successful with the extras as an horrendous hailstorm forced a break in the game as the players took cover.

As the players returned to the pitch, it was Luton who continued where they left off when Davis pushed off some weak defence to break through before feeding Weston, who was too fast for the covering defence as he scored under the posts, with Talanoa’s bringing up the half century for the home side.

Weston was in again three minutes later when he proved too strong and quick for a tired Old Haberdashers side as he fended off some more weak defending before stepping and outpacing the full-back to score in the corner, with Jake Hobbs off target with his conversion.

Luton go to Bedford Athletic in the semi-finals of the East Midlands Cup on Saturday, kick-off 2pm.

Luton: Mark Tindall, Ben Murphy, Dwayne Duffy (Jack Elborn 40), Pat Nelly, Karl Roddell (Tom Albone 50), Ryan Staff, Michael Weston, Jack Elston, Tom Mahendran, Rik Hobbs (Dave Brennan 40), Chris Talanoa, Steve Ellis, Jake Hobbs, Chris Davis, Tom Wilmore. T: Talanoa (2), J Hobbs, Murphy, Brennan, Staff, Wilmore, Weston (2). C: R Hobbs 2, Talanoa 3.

Old Haberdashers: Alex Watton, Joe Lawrence, Andrew Sanderson (Mike Marsden 38), Shaun Haque, Simon Wallis, Matt Hall-Turner, Matt Lowcock, Bobby Forrest (Andrew Harris 40), Robbie Sloan, George Clayton (Mark Warburton 65), Simon Jones, Harry Briffitt, Steve Roberts, Scott Chatterton, Brian Butterwick. P: Butterwick 3.

Referee: Paul Rogers.

Star Luton Man: Chris Talanoa. Scored his first tries for Luton and had a hand in most things Luton created.