Sat 11 Feb 2023
Longlevens entered this rare home game off the back of two even rarer back-to-back defeats. The Griffins hadn’t played at home since December 3rd and the disruption due to the weather during the previous two months had not been kind to them. In the time since the last home game the club had erected a new safety fence around the outside of the first team pitch and this match marked the official opening, the boys did not disappoint and put on a record-breaking display.
As you would expect with a score over 100 points the tries cam thick and fast, although to be fair to Avonmouth the first 30 minutes were relatively tight. The first score came to Matt Fatica straight from the kick off. The ball was won back by Jed Holman-Jones and Joe Weatherley made good ground up the middle. Avonmouth were adjudged to be off side and the penalty was tapped quickly to Fatica who went in under the posts, 7-0.
We then had wait 15 minutes for the next score as the frustrations of the previous weeks crept into the game, with Avonmouth getting a penalty. Eventually possession was won back and Fox made some ground up the left touchline, quick ball was then spun right and Ben Collier went in at the corner, 12-3.
Again, poor decision making was ruining any flow to the game and Avonmouth were able to apply some pressure. They played a short pick and go game in the Levens 22 but were eventually turned over allowing the ball to be moved to Holman-Jones. He made 40 metres down the right and the ball was recycled left to Matt Smith to show his pace to go over in the corner 17-3.
The Griffins then began to play the way they are coached and moved the ball out the back into the wider channels and the floodgates opened, four tries coming their way in 10 minutes. The next score came from Sam Oliver. Following a 40-metre break by Fox, Oliver was on hand to go over under the posts, 24-3. Straight from the kick off the ball was moved left and Matt Smith was on hand to step four defenders to score his second, 31-3. The half was finished off with tries from Fatica and Mike Yorke making the half time score 45-3.
The second half took a while to get going and it was Avonmouth who scored the first try. This woke Levens back up and from a planned lineout move on the Avonmouth 5m line Cam Jones went over, 52-8. This was followed immediately by another score for Mike Yorke who finished well on the right following some good offload play, 59-8
Scores were coming regularly now with Tom Denby next to go over, finishing a catch and drive. Oliver Kemp then scored his first try for the team by finishing up the left touchline following a lineout on the right. Mike Yorke then completed his hattrick as he was on hand to finish off good work up the middle by Jack Cuthbert, 80-8.
With 15 minutes left to play thoughts of scoring 100 points became a reality, especially as Brad Wilkins was kicking very well. This focused the boys who played an all-court brand of rugby to score four more tries. Ben Collier scored his second up the left touchline and Fatica scored his Hattrick following a lineout turnover on the Avonmouth line. The day was finished off by some powerful running from Jack Cuthbert to go over and bring up the ton, and lastly speedy winger Fox finally got himself on the scoresheet by out pacing the defence, final score 108-8
This was the performance that was needed after a poor start to 2023. Finishing second is the best The Griffins can now hope for and that still means promotion so every game counts as we near the business end of the season. Next week we travel to Barton Hill which is always a hard place to go so there’s no let up.
.png?v=638048213889410873){kind=link}