DESPITE a ‘lead from the front’ performance from captain and man of the match Chris Gregory, Lutterworth narrowly failed to take control of this close-fought contest.

Smarting from the previous week’s 70-point drubbing at Towcester, Huntingdon, with half a dozen changes to their side, were determined to make amends.

Only five minutes in, the Stags’ impressive fly half danced through a series of missed tackles and touched down under the posts to give his side an early seven-point lead. Huntingdon missed a penalty and were only denied further points by a try-saving tackle from full back Jimmy Croucher. The continued attack was further foiled by Matt Randle, who turned over Huntingdon ball and, winning a penalty, took Lutterworth out of trouble.

Despite Lutterworth losing influential Randle during the closing stages of the first half to the sin bin, Andy Burgess kept them in touch with a last-minute converted long-range penalty.

The first 30 minutes of the second period belonged to the home side, who defended fiercely and attacked in equal measure, adding two more tries against their beleaguered opponents.

The game had become tetchy and scrappy and Lutterworth were trailing by 19 points but they creditably lifted their game and gave their dejected supporters something to cheer in the final ten minutes.

Charlie Roberson finished a defence-busting run under the posts, which was converted by replacement Tom Hooper. Shortly after, another try-scoring opportunity was squandered but soon Hooper was in the action again setting up Croucher for a deserved try in the dying minutes.

It was not to be but frustratingly another few minutes of such quality play – described by coach Mark Ellis as the best so far this season – could have given Lutterworth a Lazarus-like victory.

Lutterworth Colts followed up their National Cup win over Market Bosworth by beating them 19-11 in the league.