Match Reports

Brinsford Prison 0 v 49 Longton 3rds

Longton 3rds got their 2009/10 season underway with a comfortable win (away as might be expected!) over Brinsford Prison.

The prison side was drawn from the inmates (all aged 21 and under) and a couple of their guards.  They were very quick and powerful, but lacked the experience and rugby knowse that Longton have in spades.  

It is the prison side's first season of competitive rugby and the difference in class was obvious from the off. Longton were able to score almost at will with an excellent display of strong tight-forward play - giving them supremacy in the lineout and scrum, which provided plenty of ball for the backs to use and they produced some flowing moves from setpiece and broken play. 

The Longton supremacy in the scrum resulted in the referee halting the game midway through the second half to give the Brinsford front-row a quick scrummaging lesson, helped by Longton tighthead Neil Pickering.    

Getting frustrated at the difference in ability, some of the Brinsford players let their discipline slip at times and there were a few off-the-ball incidents that threatened to let the rest of their play down.  But strong refereeing and a creditable display of teamwork and endeavour by the majority of the Brinsford side, kept the game alive as a competition.  No doubt some better results will be achieved as their season progresses. 

The Longton tries came from Steve Cartledge (3), Graeme Wilson, Alan Christian, Glen Humphreys, Gary Humphreys, Andy Quimby and Paul Howsley.  Longton achieved 2 conversions - one each for Tom Machin and Robert Krywckyj.

Next week's match should have seen the Thirds travel to Lilleshall Road to take on Newcastle 3rds in the first Merit game of the season.  But with Newcastle crying off and giving the league points to Longton, the Thirds now have a hastily arranged friendly at home to Market Drayton 1sts/2nds instead.