RUGBY: Worthing captain Jody Levett's column (January 22)

AFTER a month off from playing due to the Christmas period, re-arranged cup games and frozen pitches, it was excellent to finally get going again.

No matter how much work on the training pitch or how many gym sessions, it is always difficult to replicate match conditions and fitness, so the first game back is always a test and Rugby Lions away was always going to be this.

Having already faced each other in the second game of the season and coming off second best, losing 44-24 at home, it was going to be an excellent marker to see how far we have moved on and developed over the past four months.

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It was clear that we have indeed made huge steps forwards in the manner in which we play and it showed that the work we have all put in is really beginning to pay off.

Rugby are a big, physical team and we had struggled as forwards to contain their strong running ball carriers and their close quarter play at home. This time we were able to compete far more effectively in this area, which gave us a platform to play from.

It was pleasing to see so many players back from injury as well and competition for places is now tough, really tough, and that can only be a good thing for the squad as a whole.

At half-time, we were 12-3 ahead but it could have been more as we had been playing with the elements, a sloping pitch and the breeze.

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However, confidence was high and players were eager for the second half.

But a lack of concentration, and some poor decisions, meant that within six minutes of the second-half whistle, Rugby had scored twice and we were now 15-12 down.

How often half-time can come at the wrong time and concentration is lost. This is what happened but we must learn from this and we cannot afford to keep doing it, especially as the season gets into the latter stages.

We found the second half far more difficult to control and we were not able to maintain any pressure in Rugby Lions territory long enough to enable us to build any kind of substantial attack, or even force them into mistakes from which we could capitalise.

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Changes had to be made due to injuries, which also prevents momentum building as things need to juggle around and players' roles and responsibilities often change.

However, we had chances to win it, but couldn't quite finish off moves or chances we had set up and in the dying seconds we missed a drop for goal which would have given us a draw and a vital two points.

As it was, we had to settle for a bonus point. However, gaining a bonus point away from home against a team placed in the top four is indeed a bonus, but it is still tinged with a little disappointment when there were opportunities for more.

But it was a vital point, due to all of our close rivals picking up points. Havant with an away point at Rosslyn Park, and Chinnor a wining bonus point at home to Barking.

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These results return us into the relegation zone but the upcoming fixtures are something to look forward to. The challenge of Henley this week, away, followed by Chinnor is an exciting prospect, and I feel the next month or so will begin to set the picture for the remainder of the season.

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