Sat 30 Nov 2024, 14:00
Reading Abbey 34 Bicester 31
Mark Hoskins
Abbey were forced to dig deep to clinch victory in their Tribute 1 Southern Counties North fixture with Bicester at a grey and sparsely-populated Rosehill. The home side completely dominated the first half and led 22-5 at the break, but Bicester hit back strongly and Abbey were relieved to hear the final whistle. Both sides scored five tries and three conversions in an absorbing and enjoyable encounter, and the ultimate difference between the teams was an Abbey penalty kicked at the end of the first half.
Abbey spent almost the entire opening quarter in the Bicester half without managing to score. Second row James Gadd stole the visitors’ throw at the first lineout, and virtually the entire team handled in the opening phases before possession was lost. Co-captain Sol Wallis-Robinson disrupted his opposite number at the first scrum, and No.8 Matt Eldridge, centre George Goodenough and prop Dan John handled before prop Tom Wilkinson made the first of the numerous effective charges which were a memorable feature of the afternoon. Centre Callum House took play to the visitors’ 22, but Abbey conceded a penalty. Bicester cleared their lines, but Gadd again stole the lineout and Wilkinson and flanker James Becalick attacked. Bicester were penalised and outside half Reuben Norville sent the ball back into the 22. Unfortunately, Abbey’s throw was not straight and a good position was lost.
Ten minutes had now passed and the Bicester backs were yet to touch the ball. Co-captain ‘Treacle’ Knights won Abbey’s next lineout, and a multi-handling moved followed, twice featuring flanker Alex Langton. Then winger Alex Ashford produced a superb jinking run which resulted in another Abbey penalty. Norville kicked to within five metres of the line, but again the Abbey throw was adjudged not straight. Abbey kept up the pressure despite this setback, and Eldridge, Knights and hooker Zac Mayo all featured before Bicester were penalised under their posts. It was an easy three points for Abbey, but Wallis-Robinson tapped to Wilkinson, who was immediately floored by a high tackle. Abbey ran the penalty again, with Mayo, John and Wilkinson getting close to the line before Norville and Ashford moved the ball wide. The phases went on until Bicester were penalised again, but frustratingly Abbey threw crooked once more at the lineout. Bicester kicked clear, but full back Zeb Khan ran the ball back 30 metres. Langton,
Goodenough and House took play to the right before Wallis-Robinson sent a superb chip kick into the 22. The ball landed perfectly for Norville who caught it and ran in under posts, and at long last, after 22 minutes of pressure, Abbey were on the scoreboard. Wallis-Robinson added the simple conversion.
Shortly after the restart, Bicester winger Garyn Whiffen was shown a yellow card for a high tackle and Norville sent a brilliant long kick into the visitors’ 22. Gadd won the ball and Langton, Ashford and Khan attacked. Norville made a break, Mayo, Goodenough and winger Brendan Clarke switched play to the left and Norville sent a grubber kick to the corner. Khan won the race to the ball to touch down for Abbey’s second try, with Wallis-Robinson sending his conversion attempt just wide. Gadd caught the restart kick, but Abbey conceded a scrum in their 22. For the first time in the game Bicester looked dangerous, and after a good build-up, winger Rupert Dickinson stole over in the left corner. Skipper Dan Walker struck his conversion attempt well, but the ball dropped just wide.
Wilkinson made 30 metres with a great run after catching a Bicester kick and Ashford carried on the move. Eldridge moved the ball to the left, and Clarke made one of his unstoppable runs up the touchline, bursting through the defence to score after a great 25 metre charge. Wallis-Robinson added a brilliant conversion, after which Whiffen returned from the sin-bin. John made 15 metres as Abbey continued to attack, but there was one moment of danger when Bicester second row Joe Boik made a break. A final Abbey first half flourish saw Clarke make 20 metres before House, Ashford and Wilkinson took play back to the edge of the 22. Bicester were penalised, and Wallis-Robinson concluded the half by landing an excellent penalty to give Abbey a 22-5 lead at the break. Little did anyone realise at the time how important that kick was to prove.
Ryan Williams replaced the hardworking Wilkinson at the start of the second half, but the prop was soon back on the field as Gadd had to be helped off with a leg injury. Knights won good ball at the front of the next lineout and Norville, Langton and Ashford attacked up the right. A penalty was won, Wallis-Robinson kicked to the corner, but Abbey’s lineout inconsistencies continued when the ball was overthrown. Bicester worked the ball out of their half, and after a good run from Whiffen, second row Dan Spencer crossed for a good try on the left, with Walker’s conversion making the score 22-12.
Soon afterwards Ashford limped out of the action with Callum Willingale replacing him. Abbey were given another penalty, resulting in a lineout 20 metres out. This time the set piece worked perfectly with Knights winning the throw, and a brilliant driving maul took play to within five metres of the line. The ball was recycled and House’s excellent diagonal run took him over the line to the left of the posts for Abbey’s bonus point try. Wallis-Robinson made it 29-12 with his conversion. Becalick and Langton launched Abbey’s next attack with Wilkinson carrying on the move. But Bicester were awarded a penalty, which was kicked to the corner. The visitors won the lineout and hooker Will Anns was driven over the line. Walker could not convert, and the score was now 29-17 going into the final quarter.
Abbey won a penalty soon after the restart, with Wallis-Robinson kicking for the corner, and just before the lineout took place Alfie Seymour replaced John. Incredibly, the throw was again not straight and Bicester were able to break clear. Soon afterwards the visitors were celebrating their bonus point try when prop Tom Horwood plunged over from close range after a series of phases. Walker’s conversion made it a five-point game. Bicester were hampered after this when Martyn Eilertsen, their full back, had to be helped off. The visitors only had two replacements, neither of them backs, and they had to use a forward in the threequarter line. Abbey were awarded a scrum ten metres from the Bicester line and a patient build-up was rewarded when, after good drives from Langton, Mayo and Becalick, Seymour touched down to the left of the posts. Wallis-Robinson was just wide with the conversion attempt, and with just under ten minutes left Abbey were 34-24 ahead.
The rest of the game belonged to Bicester. With four minutes left, Dickinson sped up the left wing to score a brilliant. The winger ran in under the posts with Walker adding the easy conversion. The final minutes saw Abbey defending for all they were worth, with Williams pulling off a great tackle to stop Horwood. Bicester went through numerous phases, but Abbey kept them out under the visitors conceded a penalty in the home 22. Wallis-Robinson banged the ball into touch and Abbey were home and dry.
Abbey would have been annoyed to have lost this game having looked so firmly in control in the first half, but credit must be given to Bicester for fighting back. They did not look anything like a team in the lower reaches of the table. Abbey’s scrum was far more
secure than it had been a fortnight ago at Reading, but the lineout was unpredictable. Wilkinson worked tremendously hard, having played more of the game than he had anticipated, while Langton built on his promising performance at Reading and now looks an essential part of the back row. A challenge awaits at Buckingham next Saturday, but Abbey will be confident after this victory.
Abbey: Z Khan, A Ashford (C Willingale 49), C House, G Goodenough, B Clarke, R Norville, S Wallis-Robinson (co-captain), D John (A Seymour 63), Z Mayo, T Wilkinson (R Williams 40), J Knights (co-captain), J Gadd (T Wilkinson 42), J Becalick, A Langton, M Eldridge
Bicester: M Eilertsen (Paddock 75), G Whiffen, D Macdonald, D Walker (captain), R Dickinson, H Farrance, D Smith, T Horwood, W Anns, A MacDonald (J Sawyer 40), J Boik (W Varney 40), D Spencer, G Hayes, A Devlin, C Paddock (J Boik 42)
Abbey:
Tries: Norville, Khan, Clarke, House, Seymour
Con: Wallis-Robinson (3)
Pen: Wallis-Robinson
Bicester: Tries: Dickinson (2), Spencer, Anns, Horwood
Con: Walker (3)
Yellow card: Bicester: Whiffen
Referee: E Pugh (East Midlands)
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