Luctonians learn a harsh lesson from Preston defeat

Simon Green-Price says Lucs will learn from the Preston experience

Luctonians general manager Simon Green-Price wants the National Two North club to learn lessons from their 50-10 defeat at Preston Grasshoppers.

Green-Price says Saturday's trip was proof that they need to get things right on and off the field.

"Our organisation fell down with players arriving late at the club so we were late arriving at Preston.

"Having a player sent off doesn't help as it happened just before half-time when we were competing with them."

The Herefordshire club was reduced to 14 men when their Portuguese prop Jorge Segurado was dismissed for serious foul play - a decision over which the club has no complaints.

Luctonians have made a bright start to life in National Two North this season but the defeat at Grasshoppers was a chastening experience for all concerned.

Green-Price knows the team's lack of discipline cost them dear and says the players have to learn quickly.

We are now getting into the nitty gritty of longer journeys and good sides

Luctonians general manager Simon Green-Price

"As well as the sending-off we had a man in the [sin] bin in the second half," he told BBC Hereford and Worcester.

"In the 10 minutes he was off we shipped 21 or 22 points and the score went from 12-3 to around 33-3.

"The management dilemma is that while you always want a team to be positive and it is winning and is confident, there comes a point where it believes its own press.

"We have had some good coverage and results and the boys have worked hard but we are now getting into the nitty gritty of longer journeys and good sides," he added.

After two successive league defeats Lucs will be back at Mortimer Park on Saturday 30 October for a home match against Huddersfield.

"That'll be another tight fixture," said Green-Price. "We played them in a play-off game around three years ago and came out second best there.

"But we are a different side now although we do have a few injuries.

"It sounds like there could be a decent crowd down here for that one so we are looking forward to it."