Reading Abbey RFC

Sat 18 Jan 2025, 14:00

Reading Abbey

29 - 26

(HT 0-0)

Chinnor III

Reading Abbey

Chinnor III

Reading Abbey 29 Chinnor 3rds 26 

Mark Hoskins 

Abbey produced comfortably their best performance of the season in Counties 1 Tribute Southern North to achieve a shock victory over third-placed Chinnor Wildboys at Rosehill. Winger Brendan Clarke scored three of Abbey’s five tries with spectacular runs, but this was without question a team effort. Every member of the squad put his body on the line in a thrilling game, especially in the closing stages when the visitors fought back to within three points after trailing 29-12 at the start of the final quarter.   

There was a sensational start to the match, with Abbey taking the lead in the opening minute. Flanker George House, who was arguably his side’s outstanding forward on the day, made two metres after taking the Chinnor kick-off, and outside half Reuben Norville passed to the left. The ball went via centre Callum House and full back Sam Andrews to Clarke, who received inside his 22 and proceeded to power his way up the left wing. He swatted away several attempted tackles from a clearly surprised defence and broke clear to run in under the posts. Co-captain Sol Wallis-Robinson added the simple conversion and Abbey were ahead before Chinnor had touched the ball in open play. 

Co-captain ‘Treacle’ Knights caught the restart kick and George House made ground before Norville sent a high kick into the Chinnor 22. Harry Lowe, the visitors’ full back, attempted to run the ball out of defence, but he was brought down by an excellent tackle from Callum House. The next phases of play saw both sides awarded scrums, and although Chinnor applied pressure on the Abbey put-in, the home pack protected the ball well. There was then a brief and amusing break in play as referee James Hill replaced his almost inaudible whistle with one the worked, with one of the Chinnor players, tongue firmly in cheek, asking whether they could start the game all over again at nil-nil. Abbey won the next scrum and Andrews made 20 metres with a good run, but Chinnor began to look increasingly dangerous with ball in hand. After a series of impressive handling moves inside the home 22 they claimed their first try in the 12th minute when Lowe crossed the line on the right. Scrum half Sam Nicholls levelled the score with a good conversion.  

Chinnor played some very effective high-speed rugby over the next five minutes, but Abbey defended well and Norville repeatedly kicked them out of trouble. Second row Chris Shaw won good lineout ball (this was in afternoon on which the home lineout functioned particularly well) and Norville sent out a pass which eluded its intended target. However, Andrews collected the loose ball and passed left to Clarke. Off he went again, handing off three players on another stupendous 70-metre charge up the wing to cross in the left corner. Wallis-Robinson struck his conversion attempt well, but the ball drifted just wide.  

Prop Tom Wilkinson took the restart kick and Andrews started a move which ended with a forward pass. Abbey then forced Chinnor into various handling errors through good forward pressure before Norville made ground with a dodging run. Wilkinson took play close to the visitors’ 22, where he received support from centre George Goodenough and No.8 Mike Beckly. Hooker Zac Mayo made further ground towards the line, but Abbey conceded a penalty. Abbey’s next attack was launched by Wallis-Robinson. Winger Leo Clifford made 15 metres, and the move was continued by Mayo, Norville and flanker Matt Eldridge. At this point Andrews went off with an injury and was replaced by Callum Willingale. He slotted in at scrum half, with Wallis-Robinson moving to full back.  

Chinnor were awarded a penalty in a good position inside the home half, but Norville’s acrobatic tap infield prevented the ball going out for a five-metre lineout. Further good play from George House, Knights and Shaw kept Abbey moving forwards, and Eldridge stole a Chinnor lineout throw. But the visitors began to look dangerous, and Abbey forwards did really well to gain a turnover inside the home 22. With half time approaching, Eldridge stole another Chinnor throw and Clifford ran into the visitors’ half. Abbey were awarded a penalty 30 metres out and Norville kicked deep into the 22. A promising attack developed from the lineout, with Wilkinson, Beckly and prop Adam Postlethwaite all carrying well, but Abbey might have been better served by getting the ball wide to Clarke. As it was, a penalty was conceded and Chinnor cleared the danger. A further penalty saw the visitors kick to the corner, and after a good drive from the lineout prop Dean Collins touched down. Nicholls hit his conversion attempt well wide and the half ended all square, with Abbey’s players perhaps feeling that an opportunity had been missed to extend their lead. 

Andrews was sufficiently recovered to come back on in place of Willingale, and Abbey began the second half confidently, with Knights, Mayo, Callum House and Goodenough all handling. Chinnor were penalised at the next scrum and Norville kicked to the 22. Knights won the lineout and Mayo made ten metres. Beckly, Shaw and Postlethwaite supported him, and Abbey were awarded a penalty. Wallis-Robinson took a quick tap, and George House and Clifford took the ball close to the line. Unfortunately, Abbey couldn’t retain possession and a Chinnor break resulted in their second row Osian Iorweth running into space in the home 22. Fortunately for Abbey, supporting winger Guy Hackshaw couldn’t hold what might have been a scoring pass and Abbey were awarded a scrum. They attacked from this, and Clarke made a great 50-metre run before he was stopped. Knights won Abbey’s next lineout, and Mayo, Callum House and Andrews attacked. Chinnor were penalised close to their own posts and their No.8 Dan Warren was shown a yellow card. A confident Abbey side elected to go for a scrum, and after Beckly broke from the back George House and Wallis-Robinson got close before Mayo drove over for Abbey’s third try. Wallis-Robinson sent his conversion attempt wide to the left but Abbey were back in the lead after 50 minutes.  

Abbey came into their own in the next ten minutes, making the most of their numerical advantage. Wilkinson, George House and Mayo all made good runs, and after Chinnor were penalised Wallis-Robinson kicked into the 22. Knights won the ensuing lineout and Mayo took play to the five-metre line. Shaw, Beckly and Eldridge all got close, and then Wallis-Robinson dodged his way over the line for the bonus point try. He converted from in front of the posts to put Abbey 24-12 up. The attacks continued after this, with Wilkinson and George House both making breaks. Mayo tackled Hackshaw near the halfway line, and Andrews ran to the left. Once again the ball reached Clarke. This time he had a mere 40 metres to negotiate, and he powered through to cross for a well-deserved hat trick. Wallis-Robinson saw his conversion attempt bounce wide off a post, and Warren returned from the bin having seen his side concede 17 points in his absence.  

Wilkinson was replaced by James York at this stage, and Abbey were soon forced to defend as Chinnor desperately upped their game. With ten minutes of normal time remaining, and following a prolonged spell of pressure, replacement prop Karl Crockford crashed over from a maul, and with Nicholls converting the visitors were in with a shout. Chinnor kept up the pressure from the restart and they soon found themselves close to the home line again. Abbey defended well, but George House was yellow-carded and after a tap penalty hooker Ed Church scored a try on the left. Once again Nicholls landed a brilliant conversion, and it was now just 29-26 in Abbey’s favour.  

The referee made it clear at this stage that there were six minutes remaining. Wilkinson came back on in place of Mayo, and Abbey began a period of heroic defence. Chinnor monopolised possession and it seemed only a matter of time before they would find a way to the line. There was respite for Abbey when the visitors were penalised at a scrum and then marched back ten metres. Wallis-Robinson sent his kick to within 30 metres of the Chinnor line, and under his expert direction Abbey began to close the game out, with virtually every forward carrying as time ebbed away. But just when Abbey appeared to be home and dry, they conceded a penalty and Chinnor kicked up the left touchline for one final lineout. They won the ball and probed patiently, looking for a gap. Abbey kept their discipline admirably, tackling ferociously and plugging every hole. Finally, with the visitors just ten metres from the line, they were penalised for crossing. Wallis-Robinson banged the ball into touch and Abbey had survived to claim a famous victory.  

This really was a special win for Abbey against a side which had scored freely against them in recent encounters. Twice this season, against Windsor and Oxford Harlequins, they have come close to beating teams at the top of the league, and they deserved this success. Clarke’s tries were of the highest quality, and the commitment shown by every player both in attack and defence was incredible. George House had a magnificent game, and an experienced pack performed superbly in the set pieces. It was definitely a proud day for the squad, who now travel to Bletchley, the team which lowered Chinnor’s colours just before Christmas.  

For the record, this was Abbey’s first Frist XV league win against any Chinnor team since an equally memorable 9-6 win at Rosehill back in November 2005. 

Abbey: S Andrews (C Willingale 21-40), L Clifford, C House, G Goodenough, B Clarke, R Norville, S Wallis-Robinson (co-captain), A Postlethwaite, Z Mayo (T Wilkinson 78), T Wilkinson ( J York 60), J Knights (co-captain), C Shaw, M Eldridge, G House, M Beckly. Not used: D John    

Chinnor 3rds: H Lowe (E Richards 65), F Skinner, S Wright (S Thorley 13), S Hick, G Hackshaw, T Clark, S Nicholls, D Collins (K Crockford 60), E Church, S Ludgate, N White, O Iorweth, E Richards (T Roberts 58), T Alexander (captain), D Warren     

Abbey: 
Tries: Clarke (3), Mayo, Wallis-Robinson 

Con: Wallis-Robinson (2) 

Chinnor 3rds: 

Tries: Lowe, Collins, Crockford, Church 

Con: Nicholls (3)   

Yellow cards:  
Abbey: G House 

Chinnor 3rds: Warren 

Referee: J Hill (Eastern Counties)