MATCH REPORT: Borough show just why they're champions
Borough's super season in the English Clubs Championship continued with a win at Luton this afternoon (April 1).
A week after clinching the Midlands Divisiom Two East (South) title Borough could have been forgiven for taking their foot off the gas.
But they gritted their teeth to make it 17 wins from 20 games by securing a 38-34 triumph against a plucky Luton outfit.
And they did it despite having to battle for a quarter of the match with 14 men after having their Lithuanian number eight Paulius Strigonas sent off for swearing at the referee.
“It was certainly not one of our better performances,” said vice-chairman Archie Bennett. “It was a game of two halves. We were very much in control in the first half and led 24-5 at the break but we made some wrong decisions and were guilty of some ill-disicpline in the second half. We needed to show some real spirit to win through today against a very determined Luton side.
“To come here a week after winning the title and still get five points shows what we’re made of.”
The centre pairing of Tom Williams and Jonny Beale both bagged a pair of tries in the first half, two of which were converted by impressive debutant full-back Byron van Uden, a youngster from the club’s Academy side.
Jonno Anderson ran 70 metres for a try early in the second period and Williams crossed for Borough’s final touchdown to complete his hat-trick after good work by Stefan Gallucci. Both tries were converted by van Uden.
In between those scores, and especially after Borough went a man down following the Strigonas red card, Luton kept eating into Borough’s advantage.
But Borough’s resolute defending meant they were never quite able to edge ahead.
Apart from young van Uden, Beale and Williams, there was also an eye-ctaching display from hooker Aaron Throne.
Oundle maintained their push for runners-up spot behind Borough with a 23-13 win at Market Harborough. Stamford lost 28-7 at Vipers.