Longlevens RFC

Longlevens travelled the very short distance to Metz Way last night in this tasty Combination Cup semi final.

Coney Hill have traditionally been in a higher league than the Griffins so many of the players had not played at this ground, and certainly not in a cup semi final. Coney Hill have a proud tradition in this cup so the players knew that the current reversal of league positions would mean nothing.

This was proved correct in the first half as Coney Hill battled and played to their strengths well. They opened the scoring first through a penalty before Longlevens got themselves a try. They moved the ball through quick phases and went wide left, Henry York almost going over before he got the ball to Matt Fatica to power over, 3-5.

Coney Hill had a very big front row and were initially a problem for the Levens eight. A scrum close to the line proved too much and Hill pushed the Levens pack over for a try, 10-5. The Griffins weren't helping their cause by giving away penalty after penalty, and the inevitable yellow card was brandished by the referee. To their credit they didn't concede a try during this period, but a penalty did sail through the posts, 13-5. 

Longlevens knew that if they moved the ball around and played at pace they would be able to stretch Coney Hill, and just before half time they did just that. Tom Griffiths began to pull the strings and he span the ball right, hitting Jed Holman-Jones who was able to get a great pass away to Mike Yorke to scorch in for the first of his three, 13-10 at the break.

The Griffins knew the game was there to be won if they played the right game plan, so there was no panic at half time. Almost straight from the kick off they were able to kick to the corner and execute a catch and drive, finished by Fatica for his second and converted by Wilkins, 13-17. 

Coney Hill then had their last input into the game by applying pressure through their pick and go and scrum dominance. Longlevens defended heroically and looked to have kept them out, however the referee reversed a penalty which Hill capitalised on through a push over try, 20-17.

Longlevens then began to unleash the game plan they set out to achieve. The ball was moved through fast phases and into the wider channels. First to benefit from this was Kory Holman-Jones, who along with fellow centre, Ben Collier, was making great yards up the middle. He finished off well wide left, before Mike Yorke added his second with a great finish up the right, 20-31. 

Ben Collier then capped a fine game with a try of his own, finishing in typical powerful style following more expansive play by the Griffins. The scoring for the winners was finished by hattrick hero Yorke, who showed excellent finishing skills to make the score 20-43. 

Coney Hill had the last say by unitising their big forwards for a catch and drive to make the final score 25-43. 

This will be Longlevens first appearance in the senior final since 1992, and will hopefully be their first final win since 1963, in their way will be Matson, who beat Brockworth in their semi final. It was a great performance by the team who are inexperienced in these type of games, but all 18 were a credit to themselves and did the club proud.

The second team play Matson seconds tonight in the junior quarter finals, followed by the thirds, also playing Matson away in the semi finals.