Lucs are stung as Cairns strikes at the last

NICHOLAS Cairns popped up at the death as Tynedale edged a thriller away to Luctonians to keep their title challenge on track.

This was a real see-saw affair with Dale scoring through David Cook with almost the first move of the match, but Lucs were back into the game with a Sam Boxhall penalty and a Guy Kirkby try after 20 minutes.

Tynedale’s backs were causing havoc however and excellent scores from David Batty and Cairns, James Spencer converting both, saw the away side lead, before the Boxhall scored a fine try to keep them in it at half-time, trailing 21-17.

Tynedale took the advantage early in the second half when their backs scored with breakthrough tries from deep with Cook adding his second and Spencer adding to his tally with a try and conversion.

The introduction of prop Joe White for Lucs at halftime galvanised the home pack and they dominated their opponents.

That allowed them to retake the lead with Frank Kelly and White himself adding tries before their forward dominance was rewarded with a penalty try late on.

Tynedale were not to be denied though as Cairns popped up at the last, much to the frustration of Lucs coach Ryan Watkins.

He said: “It was an outstanding performance from the boys against a very good Tynedale outfit and to lose at the death by a couple of points makes it all the more disappointing.”