LUCTONIANS turned in a disappointing display in their first home encounter of this season's Midlands One campaign as they lost to old rivals Dunstablians 9-5.

Lucs failed to generate any first-half momentum, conceding a succession of penalties and producing handling errors.

As early as the third minute, Dunstablians' fly-half John White kicked his first penalty when Lucs were caught off-side and he added a second five minutes later for the same offence.

In the 16th minute, White kicked his third goal and referee Nick Ashton then showed Lucs skipper Stuart Bemand a yellow card.

Half-time approached with Lucs having little to show for their endeavours other than a few line-out steals by lock Chris Jaques and the occasional trundle up the field by the pack.

Lucs showed a little more shape and purpose in the second-half and they applied the early pressure as Dunstab-lians dug in to protect their nine-point lead.

Winger Andy Garrod created a scoring chance with a chip-and-chase but the visitors' defence held firm until the 20th minute when, from a line-out catch-and-drive, Lucton-ians number eight Paul Hulland was driven over for the try.