Longlevens RFC

Longlevens suffered a disappointing and heavy defeat on the road to Nailsea on Saturday.

2023 hasn’t started well for the Griffins, losing two out of three games so far. The preparation for this game was good and the squad seemed up for it, the first 10 minutes were all Longlevens as they scored first. A good kicking game allowed them to secure territory and fast paced phases opened up holes for Tom Griffiths to scorch through under the posts, 0-7.

Unfortunately, this was as good as it got for Levens as Nailsea upped their game simultaneously as Longlevens lowered theirs. The Ravens were utilising a good catch and drive at each lineout and the Griffins pack couldn’t figure out a way to stop it. After a quarter of an hour they turned one into points and drove over the line, quickly followed by another score wide out, 10-7.

Countless penalties were given away by the visitors and from one tap near the line Nailsea went over again, luckily their kicker was having a stinker and the score was only 15-7.

Just on the stroke of half time Nailsea were in again following some good close work by their forwards, half time score 22-7. Longlevens had the slope in the second half and were still confident of turning it around, but alas, it wasn’t meant to be.

Nailsea secured another score from a catch and drive before Levens managed to get a consolation from Ben Collier, but it was Nailsea who had the last word with another good lineout drive, final score 43-14.

This was a hard defeat to take, particularly with a very partisan home crowd, and Nailsea were very pleased with the scalp. Being favourites, and up there to beat, is a relatively new experience for this group of players, and one they need to get used to.

The squad will spend the week licking their wounds and working out a gameplan to beat Clevedon away next week, onwards and upwards.