Reading Abbey RFC

Sat 25 Jan 2025

Bletchley

64 - 10

(HT 0-0)

Reading Abbey

Bletchley

Reading Abbey

Bletchley 64 Reading Abbey 10

Mark Hoskins

A weakened Abbey side, lacking any replacements and containing only nine of the team which had defeated Chinnor 3rds the previous Saturday, went down to a heavy defeat at Bletchley. The visitors began brightly with a first minute try, but despite battling bravely throughout they were eventually overwhelmed by a strong and mobile home side. Bletchley scored ten tries in all, with skipper Hugo Govett leading the way with a hat trick.

Abbey arrived late and were only able to start their warm-up 20 minutes before kick-off. But despite this they scored a try in the opening minute for the second week running. Outside half Reuben Norville began a move which saw No.8 Alex Langton and winger Dan Norville handle before hooker Zac Mayo received the ball 40 metres from the line. With a penalty advantage being played, Mayo passed right to centre Callum House, who in turn passed to winger Leo Clifford. Clifford raced clear to score an excellent try, but co-captain Sol Wallis-Robinson could not convert, with his kick drifting wide to the left.

Mayo made 20 metres from the restart kick, but a scrum was conceded. Abbey’s pack looked solid on the Bletchley put-in, and full back Sam Andrews brought off a great tackle on his opposite number Elliott Hales. But the home side kept hold of possession and Govett set off on a storming 40-metre run which ended with him crossing the line to the left of the posts. Outside half Cameron Watkins missed the conversion, but Bletchley were level after five minutes. Two minutes later they took the lead when scrum half Harvey Jenkins finished off an excellent handling move to cross on the right, with Watkins this time converting.

Abbey played well for the next ten minutes. A good counter ruck led by second row James Becalick won valuable possession inside the home 22, but despite a break by flanker Ryan Williams possession was lost. Bletchley ran the ball back to the other end of the field and were only stopped five metres short when prop Toby Chapman tackled winger Ben Ruoss. Unfortunately the tackle was high, and from the ensuing lineout hooker Tom Perkins scored his side’s third try. Watkins again missed the conversion.

Again Abbey made every effort to bounce back quickly, but they were undone by a series of wayward lineouts in promising positions. Indeed, the Abbey lineout was as disappointing this weekend as it had been impressive the weekend before. However, Abbey maintained a presence in the home 22, with Mayo, Wallis-Robinson and prop Adam Postlethwaite combining well in a move which resulted in Bletchley conceding a scrum five metres from the line. House, Andrews and centre George Goodenough all handled before Chapman moved the ball right to Reuben Norville. Swift movement of the ball by Mayo and Clifford resulted in co-captain ‘Treacle’ Knights scoring an excellent try to the right of the posts. Wallis-Robinson struck his conversion attempt well, but the ball hit the left post and bounced wide.

Bletchley looked dangerous straight from the restart, and it took excellent Abbey defence to prevent prop Luke Cooper crossing for a try. A goal-line drop out was awarded, but Bletchley ran the kick back at Abbey and Govett crossed for his second try. Watkins converted and Bletchley were 24-10 ahead with a four-try bonus point already secured. Abbey lost another lineout soon after this, and more crucially they lost Chapman as well to an injury. Williams moved to prop, and Abbey were doomed to play the rest of the match a player short. Soon after this another lineout was lost and Bletchley flanker Olly Comery rounded off another good bout of handling with his side’s fifth try, which Watkins was unable to convert. Just before half time Govett appeared to be on his way to the line for a hat trick, but he offloaded to Hales who crossed close to the posts. Watkins converted to make the score 36-10 at the break.

Reuben Norville made a 20-metre break early in the second half, but he was penalised for holding on to the ball when he was stopped. Bletchley launched a good attack after winning the subsequent lineout, but Wallis-Robinson prevented a certain try by tackling Watkins into touch just short of the line. However, the home side continued to put pressure on the Abbey line, and after numerous players had handled centre Jake Allen went over for a try with Watkins adding the extras. When play restarted Abbey were twice awarded penalties in their own half and twice risked the option of a seven-man scrum. The ball was lost at the second of these, but a great tackle from House prevented another try.

At long last Abbey won a lineout courtesy of Becalick, and flanker Olly Vince-Porteous made a good break before possession was

lost. He then did well to stop a run from Watkins, and further good tackles by House and Williams kept Bletchley out. Eventually though they broke clear on the right of the field and winger John Waite scored his side’s eighth try, with Watkins converting to bring up the half century for his side. Soon after the restart Abbey were awarded a penalty, and Wallis-Robinson’s kick took his side into the home 22 for the first time in the half. Langton won the lineout, but possession was knocked forward. At this point, with various Abbey players struggling with injuries and with the result a foregone conclusion, it was agreed to have uncontested scrums for the remainder of the game. With ten minutes to go another great handling move from the home pack resulted in second row Glen White crossing for a try under the posts. Watkins converted to make the score 57-10.

Clifford was clearly a passenger at this stage due to a leg injury, but he bravely stayed on the field. Goodenough and House set up Postlethwaite for a 10-metre run, and when Abbey lost possession good tackling from Mayo and Reuben Norville stopped Govett from scoring in the left corner. After this, Dan Norville did well to halt second row Bayley Richards, but Govett claimed a well-deserved hat trick when he charged over from the base of a scrum, with Watkins landing his seventh successful conversion. There was still time for some determined attacking from Abbey, with Postlethwaite, Dan Norville and House prominent, but Bletchley once again made it to the visitors’ 22. Here they were penalised, and to the relief of his team mates Wallis-Robinson kicked the ball dead to end the match.

What a difference a week makes. It was such a shame that this fixture could not have been played on its original date, a date on which Abbey had selected a strong squad. Spare Saturdays are fast becoming the curse of the lower leagues, with players often unavailable due to work commitments, not to mention injuries and family duties. Abbey certainly suffered in this respect, but their 15 players played with heads up throughout and never made it easy for the opposition. House was perhaps the pick of the backs, impressing with his excellent tackling, while Postlethwaite was a reassuring presence in the pack. Abbey will hope for a vastly different outcome when they visit Wallingford next weekend.

Abbey: S Andrews, L Clifford, C House, G Goodenough, D Norville, R Norville, S Wallis-Robinson (co-captain), T Chapman, Z Mayo, A Postlethwaite, J Knights (co-captain), J Becalick, O Vince-Porteous, R Williams, A Langton

Bletchley: E Hales, B Ruoss (D Williams 54), A Easton, J Allen (B Ruoss 78), J Waite, C Watkins, H Jenkins (W Allen 59), J Sprules, T Perkins, L Cooper, G White, B Richards, O Comery (C Hudson 40), J Murray, H Govett (captain)

Abbey:

Tries: Clifford, Knights

Bletchley:

Tries: Govett (3), Jenkins, Perkins, Comery, Hales, J Allen, Waite, White

Con: Watkins (7)

Referee: P Sones (Buckinghamshire)