A game of two halves
Longlevens entered into this game full of confidence after last week’s win, but very aware that they needed an 80 minute performance. As you will see from the word count of the second compared to the first, this wasn’t achieved.
The game started brightly enough, with Levens yet again getting on the score sheet after two minutes. A series of penalties from the kick off allowed Brad Wilkins to kick to the corner, and from the resulting lineout, a good catch and drive was set up, allowing prop Josh Stratton to crash over the line for a converted try 0-7.
Levens received the kick off and played territory down the right of the pitch, building good phases but conceding a penalty. Hucclecote missed their touch and the ball was worked through the hands to the left, narrowing the defence, which was recognised by the Levens back line. They moved the ball back right, with Jack Beck putting Peter Sykes away down the right touchline for another converted try 0-14 after eight minutes.
Penalties were being awarded to Levens on a regular basis, and from one in the centre of the pitch, Brad Wilkins tapped and dummied his way through the defence to run in from 50m under the posts, 0-21 after 16 minutes.
The next score came from more pressure in the Hucclecote half. A kick through was carried over the line and a 5m scrum awarded. A pre planning backs move was called and executed well, with blindside winger Sam Hester coming into the line at pace to over for another score 0-28, 25 minutes gone.
From another tapped penalty the ball was passed through a series of hands, before it came to full back Matt Smith. He saw a gap, stepped the defender and sprinted in from 60m, again converted, 0-35.
Longlevens were seemingly able to score at will, with Hucclecote not offering anything in attack. As a result concentration and energy levels began to drop. Penalties were beginning to be awarded the other way and Hucclecote were able to work themselves up the pitch. From a series of lineouts 5m out they were able to set up a pick and go and powered over for their first score, 7-35.
This woke Levens up, and from a loose kick the ball was fielded by Smith who offloaded to the forwards. From multiple offloads down the middle of the pitch the ball was passed to Wilkins who went over for an unconverted try, making the half time score 7-40.
The message from the coaches was simple, keep doing what you’re doing, and double the score in the second half.
The reasons for only adding one more score, and conceding two, are probably multifaceted, but essentially, Levens couldn’t get their game going. Penalties were being conceded on a regular basis, mistakes were creeping in, energy levels were dipping, and frustration levels rising. Hucclecote got themselves back in the game, using penalties to work up the pitch, and they scored two good tries. A late try was finally scored by levens, a scrum against the head resulted in a pick and go being set up, and Josh Stratton went over for his second, making the final score 21-47.
If you score six tries in the first half, only scoring one in the second is a drop in standards. There was a definite case to make for being unable to build phases due to the number of penalties being given, but good sides work around that, something that needs to be learnt. However, seven tries away from home isn’t to be sniffed at, and it’s another five points on the road to the target of promotion. The first half performance was excellent, and 80 minutes at that level will blow teams away.
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