Longlevens RFC

Longlevens travelled into Somerset on Saturday for this top of the table clash but came away disappointed and empty handed.

The Griffins 16 match winning streak, dating back to February last season, was ended on the slopes of The Raven’s Nest, much to the frustration of all involved.

The game couldn’t have started worse for Longlevens as they conceded a soft early try. The Nailsea Fly Half spotted a mismatch in the 10 channel and managed to sneak through a gap, he showed great pace but should really have been tackled. He managed to evade all defenders and go over from half way for a converted score 7-0.

The game then became a war of attrition, with Nailsea using their big, one out runners to make powerful short yards and keep the griffins on the back foot. Had the tackles been dominant the very limited game plan of the hosts would have been stifled, but they were getting over the gain line each time and making it difficult to get a foothold in the game. Longlevens had chances but were unable to capitalise and build any momentum. Nailsea then scored an unconverted try just before half time meaning the Griffins went in at 12-0 down and a big hill to climb in the second half.

Confidence was still high and the players believed in each other to get the job done. Matt Smith got them back in the game after 50 minutes, pouncing on a loose ball on the try line and managing to run the length of the pitch to score in the corner, converted by Butler, 12-7.

Nailsea were sticking to their gameplan of sending their big men into contact, and crucially they were still making yards down the hill. A turning point came when a missed tackle around the ruck allowed them to break free down the left to score a converted try, 19-7. The Griffins had looked like scoring before this and could have taken the lead, but this momentum swing was a blow and they then struggled to get back into the game.

Another Nailsea try made the score 24-7 and put the win beyond the Griffins, but a losing bonus point was still very much on offer and every effort was made to secure it. Tom Griffiths finally found the gap he’d spent all afternoon looking for and went over for a converted score, 24-14. Desperate to get another score to get the losing bonus, Longlevens were running everything, however a loose pass on the 22 enabled Nailsea to scoop up possession and score a final gut-wrenching try, 29-14.

This was an incredibly disappointing result, but perspective is everything. Longlevens are still in a very strong position in the league and Nailsea still have to come to Longford Lane. It is a long season and many teams will suffer on the sloping pitch of the Raven’s Nest.