Sat 3 Feb 2024, 14:00
by Mark Hoskins
Abbey scored some spectacular tries on a grey afternoon at Rosehill, but they had to work hard for victory against a Crowthorne side which competed well and never stopped tackling. Max Boucher, playing in the unaccustomed position of centre, showed tremendous pace to score a hat trick of tries, while there was a storming performance in the Abbey pack from No.8 Tom Wilkinson. The victory leaves Abbey comfortably at the top of Counties 2 Tribute Berks/Bucks & Oxon South with three matches left to play.
Crowthorne’s kit arrived late, so the match began shortly after the scheduled starting time. Abbey were soon in the visitors’ 22 where second row Chris Shaw won the first lineout of the game. Scrum half George Goodenough began a move featuring his halfback partner Scott Rennie, second row Ryan Williams, Boucher and winger Furio Dawkins, and this resulted in prop Mat Woodrow, who was captaining Abbey for the day, getting close to the line. Crowthorne were penalised, and after Abbey had elected to take a scrum, the ball was moved to the blindside, where Boucher gambled on going for the line himself despite having winger Alex Ashford outside him. Unfortunately, he was held up over the line, but flanker Matt Eldridge caught the Crowthorne dropout and Abbey attacked again. Centre Charlie Shackleford took play back to the visitors’ 22, and after smart passing from Goodenough and prop Daniel John, Boucher fed Ashford who crossed the line after a clever weaving run. Shackleford missed the conversion, much to the amusement of his Crowthorne mates on the touchline.
Crowthorne’s restart kick did not go ten metres, and Abbey attacked from the ensuing scrum. Wilkinson thundered forward, and he received support from Shackleford and full back Leo Clifford. Abbey were awarded a penalty, and after Shackleford kicked for the corner Shaw won the lineout. An effective forward drive followed and resulted in hooker Adam Postlethwaite crossing for the second try. Shackleford landed what would prove to be his only successful conversion of the game and Abbey led 12-0 after 15 minutes.
A brilliant 40 metre run from Dawkins set up Abbey’s next attack, and once again Wilkinson made ground. However, Crowthorne won a penalty and outside half John Holden, a former Abbey player, kicked his side into the home 22. Crowthorne kept up the attack, and after being awarded another penalty Holden went for goal, but his kick drifted wide. Abbey resumed their attacks, and after Eldridge had won the ball at the front of a lineout Ashford, Goodenough, Rennie and Shaw took play to the Crowthorne 10-metre line. The visitors were penalised, and once again Abbey chose a scrum. Goodenough passed right to Boucher, who plucked the ball off his bootlaces and set off on a brilliant swerving run. His pace was enough to take him clear for a superb try to the right of the posts.
Once again, Crowthorne failed to make ten metres with the restart kick, and Wilkinson and Woodrow charged downfield. Flanker Callum House took play into the 22, and Shackleford moved the ball to the right. A well-worked move saw Wilkinson and Rennie handle before Boucher sent Ashford on his way to the line for Abbey’s bonus point try. This time, Crowthorne’s restart kick was too long and crossed the dead ball line. There was time for one more spectacular move involving Woodrow, Goodenough, Eldridge and an amazing diving take from Shaw. But soon after this Shaw had to leave the field with a finger injury. ‘Treacle’ Knights replaced him, and the half time whistle sounded with Abbey comfortably ahead at 22-0.
Crowthorne brought on two replacements at the start of the second half, one of whom was former Abbey player Jake Mollett. Knights stole a Crowthorne lineout throw and Eldridge, Boucher and Dawkins took play into the visitors’ half. Soon after this Abbey replaced Williams with Ignacio Alonso-Ruano, while Sol Wallis-Robinson came on for Clifford. A brilliant move developed up the right touchline with Boucher feeding Ashford and then taking the return pass to speed over in the right corner for another excellent try. At this point Shaw returned to the field replacing John, with Wilkinson moving to the front row.
After this, Crowthorne enjoyed a spell of territorial advantage, and they came close to a score when scrum half Henry Wareing was held up over the line. However, Abbey were soon back on the attack when Shackleford’s brilliant dropout from his own line bounced into touch in Crowthorne’s half. Knights pinched another Crowthorne lineout and Alonso-Ruano made ten metres with a strong drive. Ethan Peattie came on for House, and he was soon involved in a move along with Knights and Ashford. Abbey swept the ball across the field from right to left across the Crowthorne 22, and after Wallis-Robinson and Rennie had handled, Ashford put Boucher in the clear to cross in the corner for his hat trick.
Abbey continued to attack, but some strong Crowthorne tackling kept them at bay. The visitors suffered a blow when skipper Sam Clarkson was shown a yellow card, and there was time for one more Abbey try. Knights won a lineout in the Crowthorne 22, and after a break from Goodenough, Wallis-Robinson crossed to the right of the posts. The final whistle sounded soon afterwards,
Abbey were always going to win this game, but they could never relax. Crowthorne’s heads never dropped - they were always competitive and few could have complained if they had scored some points. Boucher and Ashford were supreme in attack, while Wilkinson was a real handful whenever he was in possession. Woodrow led the side extremely well, and Eldridge’s safe pair of hands were a real asset whenever Crowthorne kicked. Sadly, the crazy nature of league rugby at Abbey’s current level means that they do not play again until March 16th, and they will be very keen to see out the rest of the season at the top of the table.
This was the first time that Abbey had played a league game with Crowthorne at first team level. Their only previous meeting was a Berkshire Plate match at Crowthorne in February 2014, a game which Abbey won 80-7.
Abbey: L Clifford (S Wallis-Robinson 49), F Dawkins, M Boucher, C Shackleford, A Ashford, S Rennie, G Goodenough, M Woodrow (captain), A Postlethwaite, D John (C Shaw 52), R Williams (I Alonso-Ruano 47), C Shaw (J Knights 38), C House (E Peattie 61), M Eldridge, T Wilkinson. Not used: R Norville
Crowthorne: E Long, K Pearce(B Pearce 63), M Poole, C Joyce, L Smith (G Bruce 28), J Holden, H Wareing, K Osborne (J Mollett 40), T Dyson, S Turner (K Osborne 47-60), T Dowd, C Kelly, D Nicholson (L Smith 40, K Pearce 79), S Taff, S Clarkson (captain)
Abbey:
Tries: Boucher (3), Ashford (2), Postlethwaite, Wallis-Robinson
Con: Shackleford
Yellow card:
Crowthorne: Clarkson
Referee: R Clark (Berkshire)
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