Sat 25 Mar 2023
Longlevens played their final league match of the season knowing a win would secure third place in their inaugural Counties 1 Western North season.
The club was a very busy place to be on Saturday with the junior section entertaining Sutton Coldfield RFC so the preparations a were a bit distracted.
This led to a rather lacklustre start to the game and it took 12 minutes for the Griffins to get a foothold in the game. They started to use their powerful runners in the pack and made good inroads into the Norton defence. From a strong set piece, they were able to attack from a good platform and Matt Fatica was able to power over for the first score, converted by Ben Furley in the absence of the temporarily injured Bard Wilkins.
The set piece dominance was building a good platform and consistent pressure meant Norton were giving away penalties. A kick to the corner set up a catch and drive that was well executed and finished off by Cam Jones, 12-0.
The next score came from the backs and was an excellent finish from Mike Yorke. Another line out drive created front foot ball for Yorke to come on to and hit a great line to go in under the posts, converted by the now fit again Wilkins, 19-0.
Midsomer Norton then got themselves into the game with a try from their dangerous full back, Hugh Jeffries. He finished well in the right-hand corner to bring the scores to 19-5. The half was finished by Yorke who hit another great line to score the second of his hattrick, 26-5.
Longlevens started the second half slowly and began to give away penalties. Norton attempted to claw the score back by taking the three points twice, 26-11, but the set piece superiority allowed the Griffins to push ahead again. Dave Edwards was on hand to finish off another driving lineout, and Mike Yorke secured his hattrick following a break blind from a scrum on the right, 36-11.
The game was put to bed following a try in the left corner from Ben Furley, finishing off a lovely wide backs move, 43-11.
Norton added some respectability to the score with two late tries, created and scored by their danger man, Jefferies, 43-23.
The win meant Longlevens finished the season in third and in the mix if the RFU decide to promote two teams. That is now out of our hands and concentration turns to the cup.
This Saturday we entertain Gosford All Blacks, from Oxford, in the first round of the Papa John’s community cup. The final is played at Saracens ground in London and all attention will be on winning that. The club have also entered three sides into the Combination cup, the first team being handed a home walk over by struggling Old Richians, the seconds playing Gordon League and the thirds entertaining All Blues.
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