Longlevens RFC

Longlevens came into this game rested and raring to go after a week off the previous weekend. With news that the leagues are to be re-structured next season it’s been almost guaranteed that a top two finish would result in promotion for most of the season, but, with news of Clifton losing last time out, a renewed excitement at the chance to win the league has permeated through the club.

Levens started the half playing towards the club and entered into a 20 minute arm wrestle, with neither side really gaining the upper hand. Sarries are a hard side to break down and so it proved, with phase after phase well defended. The deadlock was broken after 20 minutes through prolific winger Tom Barton. The Sarries 9 attempted a box kick clearance which didn’t go as far as he would have hoped and Full Back Matt Smith was able to field it on the move. He carried into the middle of the park and spun out wide left to Barton who was able to sprint clear to score, converted by the ever reliable Brad Wilkins, 7-0.

Soon after Levens were able to get even more of a distance between them and Sarries with a try from fellow winger Mike Yorke. From a scrum on the right Dan Gordon was able to hit up the middle, he drew in two would be tacklers and offloaded to Yorke, who showed good rotation skills to get over the line under posts, 14-0.

Sarries were strong in the set piece, particularly the line out, and it was from this they scored their only try. A penalty was dispatched to the right corner and they executed a text book catch and drive to score, 14-7.

Levens responded on half time with a similar try of their own. Wilkins kicked a penalty to the corner and a drive was set up, hooker Dave Edwards joined the drive and peeled away successfully to dot down, converted by Wilkins, 21-7.

Although only three tries were scored the half time talk wasn’t one of panic, but more a realisation that Sarries were now probably done and the confidence was high that a plethora of tries would come in the second half, and so it proved.

Levens scored a try every five minutes on average during the second half, putting a good side to the sword. The first came from Yorke after some good attacking phases into the Sarries half. He received the ball on the right and showed good pace to go around his man, socring out wide, no conversion, 26-7.

The next few tries came almost straight from the kick offs, with the ball now being moved into the wider channels. Matt Smith was next to go over following good work out wide by Yorke. He stretched the defence and popped back inside to Smith to sprint clear, 33-7. This was followed by a carbon copy move, but this time Smith going wide and switching inside for Yorke to go over for his hatrick, 40-7.

Straight from the next kick off the ball was moved wide left for Barton to scorch clear, closely followed by a fourth for Yorke. He benefited from being on the shoulder of Jed Holman-Jones, who made good yardage before flicking the ball out the back for Yorke to catch and go over, 54-7.

The next try was an all court skills exhibition. The ball was moved from coast to coast with all players being involved, with front row forwards pinging passes wide and offloads creating good yards. Ben Furley made a good break through a ragged defence and he was able to get the ball away to Peter Sykes to sprint clear from half way, 59-7.

The game was wrapped up by Matt Smith who was able to get onto the end of a kick ahead by Wilkins, final score 66-7.

This was a very good performance and set a marker for the season run in. During the checking of the other results it was revealed that Clifton had lost at Frampton, meaning winning the league is in our own hands, all that is required is four more wins and 20 points, easy right?