County Cup Widden OB - Longlevens (16th March)

Widden OB 22 - 22 Longlevens
(Widden go through, eventually, on tries scored)

Sorry for the delay in getting this up (phnar) - been busy at work, been a sickly boy (again!!) and have spent a considerable amount of time at GRH having people shine bright lights into my eyes - ideal!!

So, let's think back to last Sunday morning - I'm not saying it was cold at Widden OB's (or Beaufort School, as it turned out to be...) but Phil Lane (or Trapper John, as we may now start to call him) was asked for his coat by an Ursus Maritimus.... Nice to renew acquaintances with sundry Davies' (Davii??) and Gellerts (Gelleri??)

Longlevens started well, into the teeth of a brisk nor'easter putting on early pressure with runs from Chris Powick, Gabby and George Cusworth, among others, but Widden found their feet and came back strongly and opened the scoring 10 minutes in for 7-0.

'Levens again tried to come back into the game, and were awarded a penalty 20 minutes in on just outside the 22 on the left - in difficult conditions Rory Woodward slotted the kick for 7-3.

After coming back in, 'Levens rather went to sleep 5 minutes later and let Widden back in for a soft try on the right - 12-3. We carried on playing good rugby as the half drew to a close, with Shane O'Brien fielding a kick well on the right and running powerfully, with Gabby and Deacs providing good support.

In the second half we spilt an early opportunity close to the Widden line, and were punished when they went down the pitch to make the score 17-3. Yet again we didn't lie down though, and with the wind behind us exerted pressure on the Widden left - with the home team conceding repeated penalties and deploying some questionable tactics... Ben Gabb drove over for 17-8, and Rory slotted a superb conversion from wide out for 17-10.

20 minutes into the second half it looked as though the game was slipping away when Widden scored on the left to make it 22-10, but again we didn't give up, and kept the pressure on, with Rory scoring a try in the right corner for 22-15.

In the dying seconds of the game 'Levens attacked again with a very clever kick and chase (and score!!) from Taff Ford for 22-20, and Rory slotting another difficult conversion from wide on the left for 22-22 with the last play of the game...

After some uncertainty, it was thought that 'Levens had won as the away team in the tie, but eventually it was decided that Widden had won on tries scored.

Still, a credit to all the players, and an indication of what can be achieved - well done to everyone involved.

Competition: Which of these 2 is a winger, and which a forward who's just taken his scrum cap off??