Longlevens RFC

Longlevens travelled to Swindon on Saturday and encountered another club that they hadn’t played in the league before.

Swindon had been struggling all season and the Griffins knew if they put in a decent performance, they could rack up some points. The first of 15 tries was scored by Ben Collier after only two minutes when he broke the first line of defence and sprinted clear, converted by James Butler, who was to have a very good day with the boot.

This was followed up by a score from Tom Barton who showed his pace on the outside to round the full back, 0-14. The next on the score sheet was Isaac Meredith, who scored the first of a hattrick with a lovely chip and chase, 0-21.

To their credit, Swindon then had some possession and managed to use their size and bulk well to force Longlevens into giving penalties away. They gained good field position to drive over from short range for a converted score to make the score 7-21.

The fluidity had temporarily disappeared from the Griffin’s play and they were finding it difficult to move the ball. However, normal service was resumed after 20 minutes when the ball was moved wide left to Meredith who sprinted clear from 80 yards out, 7-28. Another period of indifference then allowed Swindon in for a second to make the game fairly close at 12-28, but that was to be the last time they were in the game as the Griffins pulled away and scored three tries to finish the half.

The first of these was made by Steve Phillips who made a break in midfield to put Joe Weatherley away, followed by a long-range effort by Jake Fox who outsprinted the cover defence. The final try of the half was scored by Kory Holman-Jones, who was on hand to take a nice pop inside from first half man of the match, Dave Edwards, bringing the half to a close at 12-49.

It was clear that a three-figure score was on the cards, and with Swindon picking up some injuries the Griffins smelled blood.

It took 10 minutes to get going in the second half, but once the first try had been scored by Kory Holman-Jones on 50 minutes, the flood gates re-opened. His effort was added to by Piers Fortey, who dummied his through from the half way line, 12-63, and this was followed up by replacement, Matt Fatica getting in on the act, throwing some nice dummies to make it 12-70.

Having been flawless with the boot all day, James Butler then added a try to his impressive tally by dummying through from first receiver to sprint clear from 60 metres, 12-77, with Meredith completing his hattrick by running in from a full 90 metres out, 12-84.

Steve Phillips then got in on the act, although from slightly closer to the line than Meredith, followed two minutes later by Butler, who fielded a high ball in his own 22 before breaking three tackles and going clear to the line, adding another conversion to bring the score to 12-98 and his own personal tally to 38, with two more points to come.

Swindon were not giving up despite the score line and showed some character to gain a consolation, before Fatica brought up the ton with a nice try making it 17-105.

Credit must go to Swindon who had players out and then suffered some injuries, but Longlevens stuck at it and you can only play what’s in front of you. The boys were ruthless and to score 100 points in a league game is always an achievement.

Things will get tougher next week as Trowbridge come to Longford Lane in what will no doubt be a closer game, #UTFG.