Reading Abbey RFC

Sat 16 Dec 2023, 14:00

Slough

10 - 38

Reading Abbey

Slough

Reading Abbey

Slough 10 Reading Abbey 36

Mark Hoskins

Twelve magical second half minutes transformed Abbey’s fortunes on a grey afternoon at Tamblyn Fields. With just over an hour played, the visitors looked thoroughly out of sorts and trailed 10-7 to a hardworking Slough outfit. Then, a burst of scoring saw Abbey cross the line five times in quick succession to send them into the New Year at the top of Counties 2 Tribute Berks/Bucks & Oxon South. The match was overshadowed by a serious injury to Slough forward Warren Kinson, with play being moved to a neighbouring pitch for much of the game as a result.

Slough’s big forwards were soon punching holes in Abbey’s defence, and after the visitors conceded an early penalty, centre Matteo Pascucci broke clear to score a try for the home side wide on the left. Outside half Max Miles, whose skillful tactical kicking was a feature of the afternoon, added an excellent conversion to make it 7-0. Abbey endured several more minutes during which they simply could not get their hands on the ball, but eventually a good move involving second row ‘Treacle’ Knights and prop Mat Woodrow took them into the home half. Here they were awarded a penalty, and after scrum half Sol Wallis-Robinson was impeded when he tried to take a quick tap, Slough were sent back a further ten metres. Centre Reuben Norville sent a superb kick to the five metre line, and after Knights had won the lineout prop Adam Postlethwaite plunged over for a try wide on the right. Norville’s excellent conversion levelled the score after nine minutes.

Abbey looked more lively after this, with flanker James Mallon making several good runs. But the visitors conceded far too many penalties as the half wore on, and Miles pegged them back with his kicking. Slough frequently opted for a shortened lineout and this worked well for them, while contest at the scrums looked pretty even. Abbey had a let-off after 15 minutes when Slough skipper Tom Young got close to the line, only to be halted by full back Max Wills. The home pressure continued, with Pascucci looking a threat, while Norville twice floored outside centre Curtis Blanchard with excellent tackles. A break from Matt Eldridge, playing in the unaccustomed position of hooker, gave winger Alex Ashford room to launch a promising run, but Abbey were penalised again.

There then followed a lengthy interruption following Kinson’s injury. He could not be moved and an ambulance was called. Fortunately, the pitch next door was marked out and also had floodlights, which were certainly required before the end of the game. Slough continued to press when the match recommenced, and after Ashford was penalised for a deliberate knock on, Miles landed a penalty via a post to restore his side’s lead. Mallon and winger Furio Dawkins attempted to get things moving for Abbey, and then an excellent move involving Mallon, Knights, outside half George Goodenough and hinted at better things to come. Ashford’s 40-metre break, well supported by Goodenough took Abbey into the Slough half, and home flanker Aman Grewal was shown a yellow card. At this point, Abbey brought on Zac Mayo for Postlethwaite and Scott Rennie for Goodenough, but after Norville’s brilliant penalty to touch took Abbey to within five metres of the line, they lost the ball on their own lineout throw.

Mayo showed some good touches over the next few minutes, and Mallon brought off a great tackle on Tom Young. Skipper Mike Beckly and centre Callum House attempted to up the pace for the visitors, but when the half time whistle sounded after just over an hour of play, Slough were good value for their 10-7 advantage. Postlethwaite returned at the start of the second half, replacing second row James Becalick, with Eldridge switching to the second row as a result, and Abbey looked lively after the restart. However, it was still 10-7 when Grewal returned from the sin bin, though Slough suffered a blow when the dangerous Pascucci had to leave the field with an injury. Wallis-Robinson made another quick break when Abbey were awarded a penalty, and House took play into the Slough 22, but the ball was then knocked on. Knights did well to steal the next Slough lineout throw, and a clever chip ahead by Wills nearly created an opening. Unfortunately, at this point Knights and referee Grant McMoneagle collided, and following the second row’s verbal reaction to this he was yellow carded. Mr McMoneagle then had to receive some medical attention before the game could continue. The lights came on at this stage of the game.

Time wore on, with Abbey still struggling to regain the lead. A kick ahead from Beckly gave Dawkins a run, and there was then a bizarre interruption as a dead rat was removed from the pitch! Then at long last, after 62 minutes, a great move involving Postlethwaite, Dawkins, Wills and Beckly put Wallis-Robinson away on a 15-metre run into the home 22. Mayo supported well and came close to

scoring, before Postlethwaite dived over for his second try of the game. Norville missed the conversion, but Abbey were ahead for the first time. Jack Danton came on for Mallon, and within three minutes Abbey scored again. Abbey were awarded a scrum following a break from Eldridge, and Norville’s pass found Wills 45 metres from the line. The full back took the ball at speed and accelerated brilliantly to score a wonderful try to the left of the posts. Norville again failed to convert, but all of a sudden Abbey looked a different side.

Two minutes later the bonus point try was secured. Wallis-Robinson made a great 30-metre run, and Norville, Shaw, House and Mayo all handled before Norville received again and crossed the line on the right. This time he added the extras to take the score to 24-10. Abbey had now scored three unanswered tries with a man off the field, and when the binning period ended Becalick came back on instead of Knights. Abbey scored again immediately. Eldridge caught the Slough restart kick and Mayo’s pass found Ashford who powered away for another spectacular score from 40 metres out. Norville’s conversion made it 31-10, and Colt Leo Clifford came on to make his debut in place of Wills. Yet another sniping run from Wallis-Robinson was well supported by Eldridge, and Norville’s pass made it a dream debut for Clifford as he touched down for Abbey’s sixth try, and their fifth in twelve minutes. Norville missed the conversion, and with the game comfortably won the referee, who appeared still to be suffering from his collision with Knights, blew for time with six minutes remaining. As the players trooped off, an ambulance arrived to attend to Kinson, who had been lying on the main pitch for a considerable time.

Slough posed a threat for much of the game with their big forwards. They were unlucky to lose their most impressive back at the start of the second half, but once Abbey hit their stride there was only one team in it. By the end Abbey were running their opponents ragged, and several of the tries were spectacular. Wallis-Robinson was most impressive with his lightning-quick darts at tap penalties, while Mallon and Eldridge were the pick of the forwards. Both Wills and Ashford showed incredible speed to score their tries, while Norville was, as usual, a brilliant tactician. The stage is now set for a mouthwatering contest on January 6th 2024 when second placed Tadley, the only team to beat Abbey in the league this season, visit Rosehill.

For the record, twelve players from each side were involved when Abbey defeated Slough 45-9 at Rosehill earlier in the season.

Abbey: M Wills (L Clifford 72), F Dawkins, C House, R Norville, A Ashford, G Goodenough (S Rennie 35), S Wallis-Robinson, A Postlethwaite (Z Mayo 35), M Eldridge, M Woodrow, J Becalick (A Postlethwaite 40), J Knights (J Becalick 69), J Mallon (J Danton 63), C Shaw, M Beckly (captain). Not used: D Norville

Slough: J Spandley, E Smyth, C Blanchard, M Pascucci (H Dillon 42), W Young, M Miles, T Young (captain), C Griffin (M Fenwick 69), T Dyer, J Freeman, A Bryant (R Vater 14), W Kinson (G Powell 24), A Grewal, C Short, J Flisher. Not used: S Khan

Abbey: Tries: Postlethwaite (2), Wills, Norville, Ashford, Clifford

Con: Norville (3)

Slough:

Try: Pascucci

Con: Miles

Pen: Miles

Yellow cards: Abbey: Knights

Slough: Grewal

Referee: G McMoneagle (Buckinghamshire)