Longlevens MAR travelled to Dunvant RFC for a fiercely contested fixture against a strong and spirited Swansea Gladiators side. From the first whistle, it was clear this would be a physical battle, but Longlevens rose to the challenge with grit, determination, and flashes of attacking brilliance.
Tries came from Connor Scantlebury (2), Alex Wade (2), Zach Jones (1), and Bradley Loxton (1), showcasing the team’s ability to strike from both structured play and broken-field opportunities. Luke Pegler added three conversions, with Jordan Rankin-Woodhouse slotting two more to complete the scoring.
Defensively, Longlevens were resilient, absorbing sustained pressure from a quality Swansea outfit although their discipline will need to improve for the next game. The team’s composure and communication held firm throughout, ensuring their attacking efforts were backed up by solid work without the ball.
A special mention goes to Jack Giles, named Man of the Match by Swansea for his outstanding all-round performance. In contrast, Dick of the Day honours went—deservedly—to Zach Jones, who dramatically “headbutted” an opponent’s knee, suffered a minor graze, and immediately feared for his life.
The emotional tone for the day was set perfectly by Andy Nicholls’ stirring pre-match speech, which fired up the squad and embodied the spirit of the Griffins. It was also brilliant to see Elijah Mei back on the pitch following his injury in Pamplona—another positive step for both him and the team.
A tough, rewarding game played in great spirit—exactly what Mixed Ability Rugby is all about.
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