Longlevens RFC

The pre match chat about this game had two recurring themes, number one, Old Cryptians were going to be a very tough side to beat at home, number 2, they will not try to run everything as per the last game, we must be ready for a them to kick for territory. As it turned out neither of these became a reality, this was perhaps Longlevens easiest away game, and, bizarrely, Crypts are still trying to play Barbarians Rugby.

The match began with Crypts enjoying all the possession, but not doing much with it, a theme that would continue throughout the game. Longlevens managed to turn the ball over and gain a penalty near the half way line, which they duly kicked to touch. From the line out the ball was spun wide out the back, going through two pairs of hands before reaching Tom Barton. He showed tremendous pace to beat the covering defence to go over for his first of six.

There was then another period of Crypts possession where they played some one out rugby with Levens easily able to defend each phase. This period also saw the emergence of another theme of the day, penalties for not rolling away. This was to cost Levens four yellow cards and one red as the day went on.

Levens eventually secured possession of their own from a rare kick out of defence from Crypts. They executed the same move as the first try from a ruck, allowing Barton to sprint clear for the second score. The wind was unfortunately proving a barrier to Brad Wilkins kicking success, 0-10.

The game then settled into a recurring pattern of Levens soaking up Crypts phases, turning over, and moving wide to Barton to score, four in all for the first half, an incredible achievement. This period also saw the yellow and Red cards for continuing infringement at the ruck, although the lack of numbers didn’t seem to affect Levens ability to score. Crypts managed a short range try of their own, making the half time score 5-22.

The second half started in much the same way, although the penalty count started to swing in Levens favour. From a quick tap near the Crypts line Wilkins executed a planned move that went wide left for Barton to go over for his and the teams fifth.

Barton then allowed other players to get in on the act and from a very similar tap penalty the ball was moved left. Tom Porter, making his first start of the season, received the ball on the half way line and cut an excellent line to split the defence and go over for a very well taken try.

The next score came from some good possession in midfield. The forwards ran good short line, sucking in the Crypts defence to allow the ball to be moved to the dangerous left touchline. Barton turned provider this time, sprinting past the first line of defence and passing inside to Hester who ran clear of the covering players, this time converted, 5-37.

There was then a fairly long period of Crypts possession where they refused to kick and ran everything. This was easily soaked up by the Levens defence and when they secured possession back, they were clinical with the ball. The next score came from some good work from the forwards close to the line. Clean, quick ball enabled metres to be gained and Joe Weatherley powered over on the right for the eighth try of the game.

The final score went to who else but Tom Barton. Levens had spent another 10 minutes soaking up phase after phase of one out runners and then managed to get the ball back. It was spun wide left to Barton who went on the outside of his man only to be stopped just short. The ball was then worked right and left, with forwards hitting good lines, sucking in the defence. From a ruck on the right the ball found its way into Barton’s hands once more to go over for his sixth and final try, final score 5-49.

This was a game with a definite pattern, 70% Crypts possession, Longlevens extremely clinical but with terrible discipline and Tom Barton scoring for fun. It was a very good performance and showed the gulf of class between the top two and the rest of the league.