LUCTONIANS continued their phenomenal season as they progressed into the sixth round of the Intermediate Cup with a 29-17 win over Kenilworth at Mortimer Park.

Lucs quickly made the visitors welcome by conceding two kickable penalties and Kenilworth fly half James Cathcart slotted the second to give his side a three point lead. Kenilworth continued to apply the early pressure but Lucs defended stoutly and in the 20th minute launched an attack of their own when a sharp break by centre John Goodwin took play deep into Kenilworth territory.

A Lucs' penalty saw centre Anton Pilli put the ball into touch in the corner and from a second penalty, scrum half Will Price took a quick tap and hooker Stuart Bemand drove over half way out. The missed conversion saw the sides turn around with Lucs holding a narrow two point lead.

Kenilworth applied the early pressure in the second half as they had in the first but a charged down drop at goal was the nearest they came to scoring. In the 50th minute Lucs' number eight Simon Children snapped up a loose ball and made ground down the right with scrum half Price in support.

The Kenilworth defence held but when the ball was moved swiftly to the left, Lucs' pack arrived in numbers and flanker Neil Powell forced his way over for the try. A touchline conversion by Pilli saw Lucs extend their lead and in the 60th minute a third try followed. Pilli, whose strong direct running and ability to hold the ball up in the tackle had posed problems for Kenilworth all afternoon, shrugged off a couple of tackles and dotted the ball down under the posts. He added the extra points and Lucs went into a comfortable 19-3 lead.

Kenilworth quickly hit back, however, when full back David Burt assisted by several missed tackles scored a fine individual try and a Cathcart conversion cut Kenilworth's deficit to nine points. Lucs were suitably stung by their defensive lapse, however, and returned to the Kenilworth 22 where Pilli ran in his second try.

Kenilworth, though, again came back when following a period of pressure on the Lucs line, their pack drove over and Cathcart kicked his second conversion to bring his side back into contention.

Lucs justifiably, however, had the last word when left wing and skipper Will Crawforth crossed in the corner for his customary try to give his side a well deserved victory.

Lucs' reward for the win is a sixth round home tie with high flying Halifax from Northern One on January 19.