Longlevens RFC

 Longlevens played their long awaited first home game on Saturday and came away with another huge score.

This game was supposed to be a much bigger test than the previous three, but such is the ability of this current Griffins team the opposition were swept away in much the same way as last week.

The first score came directly from the kick off, the ball being won back and moved right. Tom Griffiths executed a great cut out pass that gave Matt Smith a simple 2 v 1 to put Jake Fox away, unconverted, 5-0.

Griffiths was on hand to create the second try five minutes later when he made a line break and passed inside to Tom Barton, this time converted by James Butler, 12-0. The Griffins then went off the boil for 10 minutes before snapping back into life with a third try. A lineout on the right deep in the Norton 22 allowed the forwards to set up ruck ball near the line. The ball was moved into midfield to Griffiths who again shrugged off tackles and slipped the ball to Kory Holman-Jones to go under the posts, 19-0.

Midsomer Norton then gained some territory, but Longlevens were able to turn the ball over and get it away to Jed Holman-Jones to make good yards down the right. He executed a perfect 2 v 1 to send Fox speeding down the wing for his second, 24-0. This was in stark contrast to last week where simple skills such as the above weren’t being executed, so progress is being made.

There was time for one more score before half time and the forwards got in on the act. Quick phases and offloads brought the Griffins under the Norton posts and Butler made inroads from 10. He offloaded to Steve Phillips who used his weight to crash over, this time converted by Brad Wilkins who took over the kicking duties, 31-0.

As with last week the challenge was to keep the momentum going and at least score as many again. It only took four minutes for that to happen with the forwards now starting to show their dominance in the set piece. A penalty kick to the corner set up a catch and drive and prop Dave Edwards finished it off well, 36-0.

After setting up many of the tries centre Griffiths got himself on the score sheet next with an interception, unfortunately injuring himself in the process, 41-0. Next up was Cam Jones who finished off another catch and drive on the left hand side, before Matt Smith stamped his mark on the game with a hat trick.

A line out right set a good platform to send runners up the middle. Quick ball was recycled to replacement Matt Fatica who threw a great dummy to power through, he then fizzed a lovely pass to Smith to score in the corner, 53-0.

Smith’s next try came by way of good hands moving right to left, the ball being played out the back and Jed H-J, drawing the last man to put Smith away. Two minutes later the impenetrable Longlevens line was finally broken following a poor clearance kick. Norton were able to put their winger away to mark up five points. However, Smith responded with his final try by hitting a great line. Quick ball was secured on the halfway line and moved infield to Jed H-J. He hit Smith who went through a gaping hole and sprinted clear, 67-5.

The final score came from a series of good offloads moving up the left side of the pitch, the final one finding Josh Stratton who powered over, 74-5.

This was another all-court game and shows just how good this side is. The next challenge is away under lights at Clifton this Friday, 7:45pm kick off.