Sat 13 Apr 2024
Reading Abbey 19 Oxford 12
Mark Hoskins
Abbey dug deep to claim a hard-fought but deserved Counties 2 Papa John’s Championship Round One victory over a competitive Oxford side in the Rosehill sunshine. The visitors dominated the first half and mounted a serious challenge near the end of the match, but Abbey, expertly marshalled by skipper Sol Wallis-Robinson, upped their game when it mattered in the second half.
Abbey had the advantage of a swirling wind in the first half, and prop Mat Woodrow made a promising early run. But when the home side were awarded a penalty they lost the subsequent lineout, something they would do several more times in the first half. Centre Arron Ross made a good tackle on his opposite number Ben Pearce, and full back Max Boucher made 20 metres with a speedy break. No.8 Jack Peachey made the first of several impressive charges, and outside half Scott Rennie and second row Max Courtnage supported well. Centre George Goodenough made a further ten metres, but when Abbey won another penalty the lineout went wrong again. Winger Furio Dawkins prevented an Oxford penalty kick from going out of play, and he, flanker Matt Eldridge and Rennie made ground before the ball was lost. Another good tackle from Ross halted scrum half Matthew Lay, but Oxford began to attack with confidence. After 12 minutes they were awarded a kickable penalty, but winger Jake Eadle sent his effort wide.
Wallis-Robinson and Peachey launched Abbey’s next attack, but when the ball was knocked forward Oxford looked solidly in control at the first scrum of the match. Courtnage did well to stop winger Tom McClimont, but great handling by the visitors took play into the Abbey 22 where the backs combined well to set up a good try for centre Charlie Maxwell-McDonald. Eadle converted and Oxford continued to look dangerous. Ross was deemed to have prevented Oxford taking a quick penalty and was yellow-carded, and for the next ten minutes Abbey were forced to pull out all the stops in defence. Twice they held the visiting pack just short of the line, and it was a relief when Wallis-Robinson gained possession and made a 20-metre break. Abbey were awarded their first scrum after 26 minutes, and confident handling from Woodrow, Peachey and winger Alex Ashford took play into the Oxford half.
Back came Oxford again with a dangerous downfield kick, but Boucher beat the visiting backs to the ball and saved the situation.
Prop Adam Postlethwaite, Wallis-Robinson and second row James Becalick all handled as Abbey took play back to the halfway line, and Ross returned to the bin without any addition to the Oxford score. Flanker Tom Wilkinson combined well with Eldridge and Ross, and then Boucher made a great 30m run. When he was stopped, Oxford second row William Boyes was sinbinned for a high tackle, and Abbey began what was to prove their best spell of the half. At long last they set up a platform in the opposition 22, and after winning a scrum, Rennie, Ashford, Boucher and Woodrow all got close to the line. Courtnage won a lineout, and after further drives from Ross and Woodrow, Peachey dived over the line in the last play of the half. Wallis-Robinson landed a tricky conversion from the right hand side of the pitch, and the score was level at the break.
Abbey brought on James Mallon for Wilkinson and Zac Mayo for hooker James York at the start of the second half. The home side began the half impressively, with Peachey, Courtnage, Goodenough and Eldridge all making ground. Mallon made a useful break, and Oxford suffered a blow when Maxwell-McDonald was shown a yellow card, although his departure coincided exactly with the return of Boyes. Eight minutes into the half brilliant running from Boucher and Mallon set up Dawkins for a sprint up the left wing. He burst into the Oxford 22, and when he was stopped close to the line, Ross was up in support to give a scoring pass to Wallis-Robinson. The scrum half’s conversion attempt dipped just under the bar, but Abbey were ahead for the first time.
Abbey looked really lively now, with Mayo making up for lost time with some impressive bursts. Peachey, Rennie and Eldridge all made ground, and a great diagonal run from Ashford gained 30 metres. Shortly after the hour mark, Ryan Williams replaced Courtnage, and Abbey looked increasingly impressive over the next few minutes. Peachey broke from a scrum, and Goodenough, Ross and Dawkins all handled before Mallon burst clear. He handed on to Boucher, who took play into the Oxford 22. Rennie and Woodrow continued the move, and Mayo thundered over the line to the left of the posts. Wallis-Robinson landed an excellent conversion and Abbey now led by 19-7.
As the game neared its conclusion, Abbey made further changes, with Josh Bodimede, Reuben Norville, Leo Clifford and Dan John replacing Dawkins, Ross, Rennie and Woodrow, while Wilkinson returned in place of Mallon. Woodrow was not off for long however
as he replaced Postlethwaite, while Dawkins soon returned when Ashford was injured. An Abbey victory appeared secure, but Oxford rallied and dominated the closing stages. They battered away at the home line and Lay crossed for a try to the left of the posts. Eadle’s conversion kicked was not a difficult one, but crucially he missed it, leaving Oxford five minutes of injury time in which to score a converted try to equalise. They certainly made an effort to save the game, throwing everything at Abbey in the dying minutes. They were held up on the Abbey line, but they conceded possession in final play after running a penalty, and the final whistle sounded to bring Abbey relief.
This was an intriguing cup tie between two well-matched sides. Oxford made Abbey fight all the way and will regret scoring only one try when they were on top in the first half. Abbey recovered brilliantly and dominated for long periods, but they were nearly undone at the end. Wallis-Robinson led by example with some great running and kicking, Ross defended well, while Peachey, Mayo and Boucher all had impressive games. This was Abbey’s first competitive fixture with Oxford since 1998 when they last met in a league game. Abbey now host Basingstoke next Saturday in the second round of the cup. The Hampshire side, who knocked out Tadley by 91-5, have only lost once this season and seem likely to pose a big challenge.
Abbey: M Boucher, A Ashford (F Dawkins 78), A Ross (R Norville 70), G Goodenough, F Dawkins (J Bodimede 67), S Rennie (L Clifford 70), S Wallis-Robinson (captain), M Woodrow (D John 70), J York (Z Mayo 40), A Postlethwaite (M Woodrow 75), J Becalick, M Courtnage (R Williams 64), T Wilkinson (J Mallon 40-70), M Eldridge, J Peachey
Oxford: D Matthews (S Turay 55), T McClimont, C Maxwell-McDonald (D Beer 67), B Pearce, J Eadle, G Hanley, M Lay, R Casserly (J Littlewood 75), B Reed (captain), J Greenwood (G Turay 50), T Bates, W Boyes, P Copeland (A Gouws 35-40, D Robinson 64), T Lockhart, J Sullivan-Webb (A Gouws 50, E Taylor 67)
Abbey: Tries: Peachey, Wallis-Robinson, Mayo
Con: Wallis-Robinson (2)
Oxford:
Tries: Maxwell-McDonald, Lay
Con: Eadle
Yellow cards:
Abbey: Ross
Oxford: Boyes, Maxwell-McDonald
Referee: S Peters (Berkshire)
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