Longlevens RFC

With both teams excelling at the start of the season, this game was always going to be a mouth watering prospect.

It was the away side that started the brightest with agressive rucking and defence, as both teams looked to run the ball with pace. Their hard work paid off with Fly Half Broomfield taking an easy three points after indispline by the home side.

Levens looked to use there pacey backs to create holes and gain terriorty, with Harry Yorke and Luke Peer both running hard. After combating the early surge, Levens gained good field position from the boot of vetern Rich Rudge.

They were unrewarded for their efforts as Luke Peer Missed Two penalty attempts.

A planned set play by orgainsed Levens paid off with Full Back Dan Wilton taking quick ball on the blind side, creating an overlap. He offloaded to Jed Jones who hit the line hard and with the ball yards away from the line coming off the head of the Durlsey hooker, bounced kindly for Winger eddie Cross to pounce on and give the home side a deserved try. Peer missed the extras.

This gave Levens huge encouragement and who battered there way back into scoring positions, and were unlucky not to score another try when Gavin Stokes burst through breaking mulitple tackles only to held up short.

Both teams were reduced to 14 men as Stokes for Levens and full back Pain got punished for offences in the tackle area.

Dursley had huge possession at the start of the second half used there big forwards to gain yardage and put Levens under huge pressure but could only come away with two penalties from Broomfield.

A huge turning point for the second time this seasom saw Prop Stokes get a second yellow for a huge hit on the dursley flanker, yet the referee deemed it illegal. Levens struggled in the set piece now short.

However the introducing of Danny Pitt and huge talent Louis Spencer changed the game and took levens forward with sum outstanding rugby. Huge runs from Pitt, Spencer and Rudge saw levens pin the away side back and two trys were not given by the referee who saw infringments much to everyones dismay. Mark Hancock and Oliver Deacon both touching down over the line.

Levens reverted to the boot of Peer who succesfully put Levens deservedly back in front 11-9.

A massive defence effort saw Levens hold out for the win during the dying minutes of the game.

Man of the match was shared between Oliver Deacon and Rich Rudge. Deacon worked tirelessly in the loose and scrummaged well so early on in a promising Levens career. Player coach Rudge controlled the game with his boot and made some exciting runs despite facing a young pacey back line.