Longlevens RFC

Longlevens made the long trip down the M5 on Saturday to a ground they’d never played at before. On arrival it was clear the pitch had seen better days and that this wasn’t going to be an easy day.

The game started positively for the Griffins with the forwards managing to win possession back from the kick off. This led to Bridgwater giving penalties away, and from a few failed attempts at setting up a driving line out the ball was finally kicked through the posts by Brad Wilkins for a three pointer, 0-3.

The first try came soon after and it was a very impressive score. From a scrum on the right just outside the Griffins 22 the ball was moved left to set up a ruck. Quick ball was then secured for Steve Phillips to power down the left touchline, followed by more quick ball the other way to Jack Cuthbert. His strong run sucked in defenders and the backs then took over to move the ball well through the hands to winger Mike Yorke to go over, 0-10.

A further score followed 10 minutes later for Ben Collier who was on hand to take a lovely pop pass from Luke Stratford. Stratford had taken the ball forward from a pre-planned lineout and drew in defenders before slipping the ball to Collier to ghost over the line, 0-17.

The game then followed a pattern of Longlevens being very good for 20 minutes and very average for the next 20. During the next period Bridgwater were able to get on the score sheet following continuous pressure via a penalty kick and quick tap, 10-17.

The Griffins then began to build back into the ascendancy and put together multiple phases where backs and forwards combined to make good yardage. The breakthrough came when Tom Griffiths made a line break and fizzed a pass to Jack Beck to scoot over, bringing the half time score to 10-24.

It was an up and down first half that should have seen more points for Longlevens, so the boys were determined to up the efforts. Unfortunately, the first score of the second half went to Bridgwater who executed a great Crossfield kick for their winger to capitalise on, 15-24.

The Griffins then upped their game and following a turnover on their own 22 moved up the left-hand side of the pitch and drew a penalty. Wilkins kicked to the corner to set up a training park catch and drive that flew over the line, Stratford being the one to dot down, 15-29.

The next score would be crucial and would probably decide the game, and so it proved. Hard carries from their own half by the likes of Carlos Jenkins and Jack Cuthbert allowed Yorke to be put in space on the right. He sprinted 50 yards and cut in field to set up quick ball that was spun on the overlap to Jenkins to run in, stretching the gap to 15-34.

Bridgwater then capitalised on Longlevens failing to exit properly and scored another try of their own to give them a bit of hope, but Tom Griffiths then powered over following a forward drive to make the score 20-41 and quickly matched that with a show and go from the half way line to sprint clear, 20-46. Bridgwater then gave the score a bit of respectability for them with a last-minute try, making the final score 27-46.

This was a tough workout for the Griffins and in the end a very good result. The conditions weren’t good and Bridgwater were up for it.

Next week sees the team travel to Barton Hill for a rearranged game and then it’s the big one at home to Cinderford.