Longlevens RFC

Longlevens Seconds made the trip across Cheltenham to play Smiths Seconds for a 4pm kick off due to their first team playing a top of the table clash against Frampton Cotterall.

The super 2s arrived in good time to watch the tail end of the game before getting a good warm up on the second team pitch. As the sun set and rain stopped the game kicked off under flood lights.

Both teams started well, with possession flipflopping between the sides and mostly played around the half way line. Levens eventually kept possession for number of phases which allowed Ty to break the gain line down the right hand side. The ball was recycled quickly to allow Jaidan to slide in for the first try.  (0-5)

Restarts were key for levens and in the wet conditions we couldn’t let Smiths have deep field possession. The first was executed perfectly with the ball sent up field for Smiths to attack back around the halfway line. Eventually, after a few back and forths the ball was put wide to Harry Atkinson whos neat chip over the top forced a scrum on the five meter after smiths carried over. After a couple of phases Harry finished the move with a strong carry for our second try. (0-12)

From the restart Ed Glanville sent the ball straight back to smiths within interest finding a 50:22. Then moment of the match; Louis Bosely received the ball off a lineout attack to step two would be defenders before his dancing feet sent him past the full back to for a try under the sticks. (0-19)

Levens final try came on the half hour mark. With some strong running up the wings, Levens worked their way into smiths 22. Ed at 12 from a standing start stepped his way through two defenders for the bonus point try under the sticks. (0-26)

From the resulting kick off, Levens didn’t exit properly. Putting all the pressure on themselves. Eventually, Smiths worked a clever line out and drive play to get the advantage before a Crossfield kick put them in for their first and only try. (5-26)

The message at half time for Levens was to keep playing the territory game. It was no good trying to play out of our own half in the conditions.

However, with the job done levens spent much of the second half soaking up wave after wave of Smiths pressure. With very little go forward, the opportunities for the griffins to score was few and far between and the game ended as it was at the half. Smiths 2s 5 – 26 – Longlevens Seconds.

Ed Glanville, Zak Oliver and Harry Atkinson all controlled the game well with their kicking and ball distribution. The forwards all tackled their hearts out with the backrow all having great games.

MOTM had to go to Harry Atkinson though, with a few key moments that set the game in Levens favour.

DOTD was a tough one. No obvious moments of heads gone. Although, late in the second half Smiths 2s sent a kick long for Full back Mike Yorke to recover and run back to the opposition 22. A crafty turn over and Smiths kicked it long to the Levens 5 meter line. Finding himself in the fullback position Andrew Kilby with no Smiths player within 30 meters managed to knock the ball on for a Smiths scrum. DOTD.

Next week the Super 2s welcome Ross on Wye to Longford Lane.