Sat 16 Nov 2024
Longlevens welcomed Old Cents to Longford Lane for the first time in the league since February 2001. It was also the first city derby the Griffins had had in the league for a number of years.
Old Cents have been above Longlevens in the league set up for many years but heading into this game the Griffins were sitting higher and were arguably the favourites. However, this being a local derby form goes out of the window and this game turned into a stalemate.
Longlevens started very brightly and were 14 nil up after 10 minutes. Right from the off Tom Barton was finding holes in the Old Cents defence, and from a great line break from inside his own half he was able to get the ball away to Matt Smith to open the scored, 7-0.
Barton then scored one of his own after again finding space and bumping defenders to go over, converted by James Butler, 14-0, 10 minutes gone. Longlevens looked like they were going to run away with it and win comfortably, however Old Cents were dogged in defence and the normally fluid attack of the Griffins stuttered and the game fizzled out into a war of attrition.
The half time score was 14-0 and frustrations were beginning to build.
It was Old Cents that had the better of the second half, scoring a try early after the restart and again on 60 minutes, crucially missing one conversion, to bring the score to 14-12. That’s the way it stayed for the last 20 with the game mostly being played in the middle of the park. There was one controversial moment near the end where it looked like Cents had scored the winning try. They broke from their own half and the winger seemingly just had to run it in. Instead, he passed inside to his support and then ran a bocking line into the Longlevens cover. The referee saw the offence and blew for a penalty for obstruction and the Griffins beathed a sigh of relief. Old Cents were understandably upset by this but the video footage clearly shows the Old Cents winger stop Tom Barton from making the covering tackle, so a fair result in the end!
Longlevens will be pleased with the win and the fact they are now unbeaten in five games. There is another break week next week before we travel to bottom club, Swindon, #UTFG.
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