Loughborough Student Rugby League delivered a confident display of rugby as they eased through to the BUCS Championship Semi Finals. The Loughborough crowd got what they came for as the rugby league team couldn’t stop scoring at the Towers pitch on Wednesday afternoon.
An early exchange of hard hits and organised defence from both teams pressured Loughborough in having to go wide to get their first score of the day. A well worked move ended with centre Billy Hale passing to winger Anthony Squires, whose outstanding speed, saw him cruise pass the drifting UWIC defence.
Hale then added his own score minutes later, with a simple switch down the blindside allowing him crash over the line. Loughborough kept up the relentless attack scoring two further tries as they began to pressure the opposition in the centre of the field.
As the visitors defence slowly creaked, Lloyd Thomas began to dismantle tackles, with his hard running breaking the defensive line several times. Thomas, a new finding for the club this season, has settled in well at centre, having a big impact in only his second appearance. Captain Edward Mark Wilson was yet again emphatic with the boot, with a 100% conversion rate at half time.
The second half followed along the same lines as the previous 40, with Loughborough yet again dominating possession and physicality. UWIC travelling to Loughborough as large under dogs, offered glimmers of attacking edge and proved to be well organised in defence, however throughout failed to maintain the pace and speed at which Loughborough played at.
Several hard hits from Tom Morgan and some thundering charges by prop Sam Pacey, ensured the team continued to dominate the physicality battle. The floodgates soon opened as LSRL’s higher fitness levels and greater experience allowed them to make the most of a strained UWIC defence.
Edward Mark Wilson made the most of his opportunities going over for two tries and maintaining a solid kicking performance whilst Tom Morgan was also rewarded for his hard work with a try of his own, along with Chris Barrett and Jack Powelly grabbing a score each.
It was a confident display from the Loughborough side; however they will be under no illusions, knowing that far greater challenges await them in the semi final.
