LONGLEVENS RFC
NPI Cup Longlevens 19 - 9 Bournemouth
Despite the away side coming from the equivalent of two leagues above Longlevens, the home
side were at their best in this cup encounter.The first half started off with 'levens playing
with the wind, with Antonjetvic giving 'levens territorial advantage with clever kicking and after the away
side gave away a kickable penalty in which Antonjetvic duly obliged.Still 'Levens kept the
pressure on, and as the ball was span out wide after the forwards had driven on from a lineout, winger
Adey Jones went for the corner.As he was tackled as he dived for the try, the lineman's flag went up for
touch, much to the disbelief and disgust of the home crowd.Bournemouth managed to clear their lines but
could not get out of their half, and as a resulting penalty to the home side, Antonjetvic made no mistake
in slotting over the three points.
Halftime Longlevens 6 - 0 Bournemouth
As in the first half 'levens started well and still maintained territorial advantage despite playing into the
wind.Everytime Bournemouth kicked for distance, touch was not found and fullback Darren Hendry punished them
with some surging runs, linking with the forwards who crossed the gain line everytime.Despite this, the away side
managed to make it into 'levens half several times after the referee seemed to spoil the game by blowing early in
the rucks, and as a result, Bournemouth finally got on the scoresheet via a penalty.Then both teams exchanged
penalties making the score 9-3.
This seemed to make 'levens go up a gear, espically the forwards, who started to dominate the scrums and lineouts
taking a lot of ball of the opposition and making ground through driving mauls and rucks.It was from the forwards
that the only try of the match came from.It all started from a 'levens lineout on Bournemouth's 22, with the home
forwards driving on from the take, the ball was span out to the centres on a crash ball.The forwards started a
driving maul from the breakdown which resulted in lock Tom Bircher being drove over the line, which Antonjetvic
converted.
At 13-3 down with around ten minutes to go, 'levens expected an onslaught from the opposition, but it never came.
Longlevens gave away several penalties, yet Bournemouth decided to kick at goal rather than use the wind and go for
the corner.The result was 3 points to the visitors, who were given opportunities to come back in the game, but seem
to have run out of ideas.Then in the dying minutes 'levens surged into the opposition's 22 and were awarded a penalty
in which Antojetvic converted.
The last couple of minutes were played with neither side crossing the gain line, and when the final whistle went, the
home side cheered knowing that not only had were they through to the next team, but they had beaten a team from a higher
league in doing so.Overall the team was satisfied with the result, everybody played exceptionally well, with the forwards
taking ball off the opposition in the scrums and lineouts and the backs crossing the gain line with some decisive moves and
defending resilently.
Team ; D.Hendry,A.Jones,S.Chant,R.Rudge,M.Entwistle,G.Antonijevic,N.White,W.Speakman,S.Rowan,J.Thomas,T.Bircher,M.Deacon
G.Henderson (c),R.Molloy,S.Merrett. subs not used ; G.Evans,J.Norman,G.Weatherly,E.Cross.
HOME
Email: longlevensrfc@hotmail.com
