Longlevens RFC

First game of the season, following Longlevens Mixed Ability World Cup Plate victory, was a quick trip down the M5 to a fellow World Cup team and local rivals in Worcester.

Before the game started there was a touch game against the Worcester Touch Team. This game was played in great spirits but still had a competitive edge to it. There were debuts for Ally, Laura, Cat and Joe (who scored on debut) in the touch game and the return of Rich Morris, who went on to score 2 of the 5 tries. Worcester won the touch game 6 tries to 5 with a last-minute winner from one of their talented ladies, who found a gap in the defensive line to go over and score.

Following the touch game, there was a 2 Minute silence for the passing of Her Majesty, The Queen where the two teams stood in a huddle to pay their respects.

As it was the first game of the season, we agreed to play this in three 20 minutes periods. Worcester started the brighter team making a few line breaks until a tackle from Rhys, on debut, which stopped the Worcester attack. After this the ball was spread wide with Paul Watson beating his man on the outside and running the ball in for the first try of the match, however the conversion was missed. Not long after the restart Shane Daley, on first game as the new captain, broke through the defensive line and ran in under the posts for the second try for Longlevens, Jordan Rankinwoodhouse got the conversion. After the restart and a few loose passes, the ball made it to one of Worcester’s dangermen who used his pace to get round the defence but a brilliant covering tackle from Shane putting the Worcester player into touch saved a certain try. Following a break by Rich Morris in the middle of the field, Shane ran a perfect inside line, dummied an offload back to Rich, then went over himself for the 3rd score for Longlevens, conversion missed. End of first third 17-0 to Longlevens

At the start of the second period, Worcester again started the brightest and this time made it count as the managed to get a few phases together and went over for their first try but the conversion was missed, current score was now 17-5 to Longlevens. Not too long after the restart however there was a break down the left touchline by Reece Joyner, who draw his man, passed it to Connor Scantlebury who beat the covering defender to go over and score the first of his 3 tries, conversion missed. After a scrappy period where mistakes for both teams led to a few scrums and penalties, Jez Wilson, who said that he retired at the end of last season, went over and scored, score was now 27-5 to Longlevens. Following a sustained period of pressure by Worcester, a knock on by Worcester lead to an attack by Longlevens where Jordan drew his man and offload for Connor to sprint in from the half way line to score under the posts, conversion scored. End of second third 34-5 to Longlevens

Into the final third, you could tell it was the first game of the season as the fitness levels started to drop which led to the game being a bit scrappy. Connor managed to get this hat-trick try after beating his man and sprinting in and getting his 3rd try of the match, conversion missed. After some sustained pressure and great defence by Worcester on their own try line, Zack Fisher managed to break the defence and go over and score, conversion missed. In the final play of the game, following some great play from Worcester they managed to get the final score of the game and got the conversion. Final score was 44-12 to Longlevens

Well done to the debutants including the brother Joe and Rhys, who played their first games of rugby but you wouldn’t have though it watching the game.

Man of the Match: Connor Scantlebury. Shame he decided to where his Bristol Bears stuff after the game.

Thank you to Worcester for a great game and good luck for the rest of the season, the game was closer than the score line suggests and there are things to work on for both teams but all in all was a great day of rugby. A great start to the season in which we can build on in the upcoming fixtures.