Match Reports

Featherstone Prison 33 v 26 Thirds

After losing both games at Featherstone last season, the Longton 3rd XV were expecting a hard game against last seasons Merit Table B South winners, and current unbeaten leaders. After going 4 tries to 1 down at half time, managed to claw back to 26-26 to then concede a late try to lose 33-26.

The game kicked off with Longton again dominant in the scrum and lineout, FR (Rich Hewitt) ably supported by Pickering and Dix taking all lineout ball with ease, in the first few minutes Longton ran at the opposition and kept presenting clean ball for the backs to use, and after 5mins they scored the first try, winger Chris Pike taking the ball out wide, beating the Featherstone player and scoring the first try, Gaz Bartlett converted.

What then followed was one way traffic as Featherstone seemed to score with ease, getting the ball out to their speedy wingers who kept cutting in and slicing through desperate tackles as they pulled the Longton defence all over the pitch. Scoring 4 tries and converting 3 of them Featherstone led 26-7 at half time. 

At half time Longton decided to change tactics, keeping the ball in the forwards, and away from the fit and fast Featherstone backs. Centre Jon Mathias scored first, with the front five driving the scrum, scrum half Tom Machin passed the ball out for Jon to bulldoze over. 26-12. Fullback Paul Housley scored next, Gaz Barlett put up an old fashioned up and under, that the Featherstone No15 managed to spill, Paul picked up and took the ball over the line, Gaz converted to make it 26-19. The final try was the result of another drive from a good catch and drive from a 5m lineout, from the driving maul young scrum half Tom Machin took the ball over the line, Gaz converted 26-26.

By now Longton were on the ascendancy, with bone crunching tackles flying in from Housley, Mathias, Shutt and Morris it was disappointing when Featherstone scored the last try, Longton losing the ball on their own throw, Featherstone drove up the pitch to score under the posts 33-26.

A good all round performance, that would have been worse if Paul Housley and Jon Mathias had missed any of their try saving tackles, Paul just edged out Jon as man of the match due to twice cutting the opposition centre in half when he tried to break the line.

No game next week so the youngsters can recharge their batteries and watch the Vets take on Linley Vets at home.

NP