Reading Abbey RFC

Sat 26 Oct 2024, 14:00

Reading Abbey

19 - 26

(HT 12-14)

Wallingford

Reading Abbey

Wallingford

Reading Abbey 19 Wallingford 26

Mark Hoskins

A try two minutes from full time consigned Abbey to defeat against Wallingford on a damp afternoon at Rosehill. The home side scored three superb tries and did well to fight back after a poor start, but Wallingford’s big pack took control at a crucial stage of the game. The result leaves Abbey in seventh position in Counties 1 Tribute Southern North.

Abbey gave a debut to flanker Stephen Bonnett, while replacement Oliver Andrews was also in the squad for the first time. Second row James Gadd caught the kick off and set up a good platform for Abbey’s first phase of handling, with skipper Sol Wallis-Robinson, centre Callum House and second row James Becalick all involved. Outside half Reuben Norville twice sent high kicks into the Wallingford half, but after possession was lost Abbey were pushed backwards at the opening scrum. Soon afterwards, Abbey were penalised, and Wallingford elected to take a scrum, again pushing the home pack backwards. House did well to stop centre Tom Cerullo, but a third penalty was conceded, this time in front of the posts. Again Wallingford chose to take a scrum, and after Abbey were again shunted backwards the ball was moved to the left where winger Chris Greig-Jenkins crossed for the opening try. Full back Charlie Campbell landed a brilliant touchline conversion to give Wallingford a 7-point lead after as many minutes.

Wallingford fumbled the restart kick and Abbey did well to hold the ball at their first put-in of the afternoon, thanks to the control of No.8 Chris Shaw. But the visitors were soon back in the home 22, where they won a lineout. Massive second row James Porter broke through the defence and his pass sent No.8 Nathan Chapman over the line close to the posts. Campbell again converted and Abbey trailed 14-0 after just twelve minutes. At this point a heavy defeat already looked a possibility, but Abbey began to play positive rugby from the restart, with Wallis-Robinson and Norville working the ball into the Wallingford 22. Norville then passed to the right and winger Leo Clifford set off on a brilliant 20-metre run. He just managed to get the ball down before he was tackled in the corner and Abbey were on the scoreboard. Wallis-Robinson was unable to add the tricky conversion.

After this, Abbey looked more and more confident. Wallis-Robinson made a 30-metre break from a tapped penalty, and he received support from Gadd and prop Dan John. Bonnett won the next lineout for Abbey, and hooker Matt Eldridge linked with flanker Max Crighton inside the Wallingford 22. Bonnett, House and his co-centre George Goodenough kept the movement alive, and after prop Tom Wilkinson was stopped five metres from the line Abbey were awarded a penalty. Norville kicked for touch, Crighton won the lineout, and the ball was worked across the field to winger Brendan Clarke. He made a good break but was injured when he was tackled and although he initially stayed on the field he was clearly in discomfort. Abbey were awarded another penalty, and after Gadd won ensuing lineout the forwards drove for the line. Wallingford stopped the drive illegally and Chapman was shown a yellow card. Once again Norville kicked for the corner, and a series of confident lineout wins continued with Crighton winning clean ball. Wilkinson barged his way towards the line, but unfortunately he was held up as he crossed.

Full back Zeb Khan made 30 metres for Abbey after Wallingford had taken their goal line dropout, but possession was lost and a penalty conceded. At this stage Clarke limped out of the action and Andrews came on for his debut. He slotted in at centre with Goodenough moving to the wing. Crighton won another lineout, but despite good handling by John, Eldridge and Clifford Abbey could not break through. The sin-bin period ended without Abbey adding to their score. Bonnett twice ran excellent lines as Abbey continued to attack and they made it to the Wallingford 22 where Khan was held up following a good break. Andrews was twice involved in the next handling move which resulted in an Abbey penalty. Recent Abbey scrums had looked far more secure and they actually chose to take a scrum from the penalty. From the set piece Norville broke to the blindside and scored a very characteristic try in the right corner, timing his run to perfection and gliding through the opposition. Andrews took on the goalkicking duties and added a superb touchline conversion. Soon afterwards the half time whistle sounded with Abbey trailing by just two points and very much back in the game.

Zac Mayo replaced John at the start of the second half and he was soon in the action, providing perhaps the most memorable moment of the afternoon. With the half only a couple of minutes old, Crighton won a lineout on the Wallingford 22 and Bonnett moved the ball to the left, passing to Mayo. He set off on a brilliant 20-

metre run, barging through the defence and crossing to the left of the posts for an amazing try. Andrews converted and Abbey were 19-14 ahead. After this Wallingford began to look dangerous again, with replacement prop Tyler Harvey proving difficult to stop. But Abbey continued to attack, with House, Wilkinson and Clifford taking play to the visitors’ 22. Sadly, after Abbey were awarded a penalty and Norville kicked to the corner, the subsequent lineout was lost. Unfortunately, this proved to be the shape of things to come, and Abbey’s lineout, so secure in the first half, constantly misfired for the rest of the game.

Wallingford drew level in the 52nd minute following a spell of pressure in the home 22. Bonnett’s tackle halted a break from Cerullo, but the ball was moved wide to the left where centre Sam Botting broke through to score. Campbell’s conversion attempt was well-struck, but it drifted just wide and the scores were level. Soon after this Billy Parrish replaced Crighton in the Abbey back row. Wallis-Robinson and Gadd set up an attack involving Mayo, Khan and Shaw, but Abbey continued to lose lineout ball. Wallis-Robinson performed brilliantly to rip the ball from a Wallingford forward and Khan made a 20-metre break. Norville did his best to set up a try for Clifford but his pass didn’t quite reach the winger, and rather surprisingly this was Abbey’s last clear-cut chance.

With just over ten minutes left Becalick was injured, and John returned in his place. Goodenough broke up the left wing, but Abbey lost the ball and were forced back to their own 22. From then on it was all Wallingford. They put Abbey under tremendous pressure and eventually a penalty was conceded. It was in a very kickable position, but Chapman surprised everyone by taking a quick tap and running through to score under the posts. Campbell added the routine conversion, and although there was time to restart the game Wallingford ensured that Abbey were deprived of any further possession. They closed the game out comfortably and Abbey had to be content with a losing bonus point.

This was an unusual match, with Abbey starting and finishing poorly but looking the better side for much of the time in between. Norville, as always, directed his backs superbly, and the pack did well to recover from a nightmare start to achieve parity at the scrums. Crighton worked hard, Mayo put in a brilliant second half cameo, and Bonnett was most impressive on his debut. It was unfortunate that Clarke’s injury prevented him from testing the Wallingford defence, but his departure at least gave Andrews the

chance to stake a realistic claim to be Abbey’s first choice goalkicker. All in all, the team played with pride and increasing confidence against strong opposition, and perhaps a draw might have been a more appropriate result.

Abbey: Z Khan, L Clifford, C House, G Goodenough, B Clarke (O Andrews 32), R Norville, S Wallis-Robinson (captain), D John (Z Mayo 40), M Eldridge, T Wilkinson, J Gadd, J Becalick (D John 69), M Crighton (B Parrish 56), S Bonnett, C Shaw

Wallingford: C Campbell, C Greig-Jenkins, S Botting, T Cerullo, S McMillan, L Stacey, J Payne (O Corbett 35), L Dallimore, T Bradfield, J Thurston (T Harvey 39), C Murphy (captain), J Porter, J Morris (G Thomasson 52), M Suttner (J Morris 74), N Chapman

Abbey:

Tries: Clifford, Norville, Mayo

Con: Andrews (2)

Wallingford:

Tries: Chapman (2), Greig-Jenkins, Botting

Con: Campbell (3)

Yellow card: Chapman

Referee: D White (Berkshire)