Our Colts take the win against Longlevens!

Cheltenham Colts 35 – 22 Longlevens

 

Cheltenham Colts delivered an impressive performance at Newlands, blending structured attacking phases with relentless defensive pressure to secure a deserved 35–22 victory over a powerful Longlevens side currently competing in the National Cup semi-finals and previously unbeaten in the league.

From the outset, this was a physical and high-intensity encounter. Longlevens competed fiercely and put Cheltenham under pressure at every breakdown, creating a real battleground where both sides forced turnovers. Cheltenham captain Zac Nolan led by example in this area, with the home side working hard to gain control of the breakdown for large parts of the game.

Sustained attacking phases began to stretch the Longlevens defence, and slick hands released hooker James Burton into space in the 13 channel. With plenty to do, he showed great pace and strength to finish from 30 metres out. Dan Scott added the conversion to give Cheltenham a 7–0 lead.

Momentum continued to build as fly-half Scott then produced one of his trademark breaks, slicing through the defence to score under the posts. He converted his own try to extend the lead to 14–0.

Longlevens responded through forward pressure, scoring from close range to narrow the gap to 14–5. Just before half-time, their centre crashed over under the posts following sustained phases, bringing the score to 14–12 at the break.

Cheltenham started the second half strongly, with powerful carries creating front-foot ball. Although two scoring opportunities went unfinished, the pressure eventually told. Scott took a quick tap penalty to score and converted to make it 21–12.

Outstanding defensive sets then put Longlevens under sustained pressure, forcing errors and allowing Cheltenham to attack deep in opposition territory. From the edge of the 22, Scott danced through two forwards and beating the covering defence to complete his hat-trick, converting to extend the lead to 28–12.

Longlevens responded immediately. From 35 metres out, their No.8 Matty Jones took the ball to the line, stepped inside a gap in the Cheltenham defence and raced in to score, reducing the deficit to 28–17.

With seven minutes remaining, momentum shifted towards Longlevens, but Cheltenham’s defence remained resolute, putting in huge effort across multiple phases. From one such defensive set, Longlevens were forced into an error, and winger Kwabena Ofosu-Apea (Kwabs) intercepted inside Cheltenham’s 22 before winning the footrace to score under the posts. Scott converted to push the lead to 35–17.

Longlevens continued to push and managed a late score, exploiting a gap in the Cheltenham defence, but it was not enough to change the outcome.

 

FINAL SCORE
Cheltenham Colts 35 – 22 Longlevens

MAN OF THE MATCH
A true team performance — everyone contributed, with the squad showing outstanding unity, work rate and character throughout.