Longlevens RFC

Finally, after 18 months of waiting, Longlevens returned to league rugby. The venue was the
unfamiliar Shaftsbury Avenue, home to Dings Crusaders. With second teams now allowed to
enter the RFU leagues, we have the pleasure of playing Dings 2nds and Clifton 2nds, which,
as proven on Saturday, will provide us with some tough tests. 
The day began with us taking a convoy of mini buses down the M5 and arriving at the
aforementioned Shaftsbury Avenue, which, no disrespect to anyone else in the league, will
probably be the nicest ground we play at all season, bar our own of course. The weather
and the pitch were both perfect for fast and expansive rugby, and that is exactly what the
large crowd got. 
The game began at a frantic pace, with both teams eager to move the ball and build phases.
From a charged down box kick on the 22,  Brad Wilkins regathered and moved the ball left
to the back line. The ball went through the hands to Matt Smith, who broke several tackles
and made a great break, he created a two on one with the full back and executed a perfect
pass to winger Tom Barton, who had too much pace for the covering defence. He went over
in the corner and Wilkins converted to make the score 0-7 after two minutes.  
Straight from the kick-off Dings managed to secure possession and build pressure through
their strong short game. They made good use of the one out runners and passive tackles to
get close to the line. From the resulting pick and go the Dings prop barrelled over for a
converted try, making it 7-7 after only four minutes. 
The game then became defensive for Longlevens, with too many penalties being given
away, and a very strong forward pack to contend with. However, to their credit, the Levens
players tightened the defence and kept Dings at bay. They then began to use the boot to
good effect and gained territory. From a resulting penalty, the ball was kicked to the corner,
a catch and drive was then set up and Matt Fatica was able to power over from short range,
although this was crucially unconverted, making the score 7-12.
The rest of the half was a similar story, heroic defence, and silly penalties. From one of these
penalties Dings slotted three points, making the half time score 10-12.
The message was clear at half time, keep the penalty count low, play in the right areas, and
score first. Unfortunately, the latter didn't happen, as a pass over the top to attempt to
release the winger went to a Dings hand, giving them a seven pointer, making the score 17-
12. 
This didn't seem to faze Longlevens and they put themselves in the right positions. From a
resulting play, Matt Smith made a nice break on the right side of the pitch, but was tackled
just short. The forwards then set up a pick and go, and veteran front rower Dave Edwards
flopped over from short range for an unconverted try, making the score 17-17.
Longlevens now had the bit between their teeth and were in the ascendancy. Replacement
Kory Holman-Jones had not long been on the pitch, but was making himself known to the

Dings defence. From a lineout the backs ran a strike move, and Holman-Jones ran a great
line to power his way under the posts for a converted try, the score now 17-24. 
With only 10 minutes left, and a potential fiver pointer in the bag, the team and supporters
were happy. Dings had other ideas, and some intelligent kicking from their 10 resulted in
them benefitting from the new 50-22 law, where a ball bouncing into touch from inside
their half, into our 22, meant they got the lineout 5m from the line. The writing was on the
wall as their driving game had been strong all afternoon. The inevitable try was scored, but
crucially, not converted, 22-24.
With two minutes to go, and the game seemingly in the bag, Levens just needed to see it
out. From a ruck just outside the 22 the referee indicated the ball was out, so number 8
Fatica kicked through to try to relieve some pressure. Frustratingly, the official saw it
differently and gave a penalty against Fatica. With an easy kick the Dings 10 made the score
25-24 without enough time for Levens to get another score.
It was a tough one to lose, considering the high-quality rugby that was on display. The effort
couldn't be faulted and all 18 players did the club proud. This game was a great advert for
Gloucester Premier, and, despite the result, gives Longlevens plenty of confidence going
into the rest of the season. The new addition of second teams will see plenty of clubs go to
Bristol and suffer an upset, so the league seems wide open this year.

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