Reading Abbey RFC

Sat 18 Oct 2025

Oxford

24 - 40

Reading Abbey

Oxford

Reading Abbey

Oxford 24 Reading Abbey 40 

Mark Hoskins 

Abbey scored three tries in each half, but they had to work hard to defeat a spirited Oxford side in their Counties 1 Tribute Ale Southern North clash at North Hinksey. The visitors won the forward battle, with hooker Tom Wilkinson outstanding in the loose, but the home backs were creative and kept their side in the game until near the end. Despite the result, Abbey have dropped one place in the table to seventh, with Oxford slipping from fourth to fifth.  

Abbey dominated the early stages. Outside half Reuben Norville quickly brought winger Alex Ashford and full back Max Boucher into the game, and it was the latter who sent winger Leo Clifford off on a run into the home 22. The ball was lost, but Oxford were penalised soon afterwards and skipper Sol Wallis-Robinson kicked back into the 22 again where flanker David Carr won the ensuing lineout. Wilkinson broke the line with the first of many impressive charges, and supporting runs from No.8 Mike Beckly and props Adam Postlethwaite and Dan John took Abbey to within five metres of the line. Oxford were penalised under their posts, and Abbey felt confident enough to opt for a scrum rather than a kick at goal. Their confidence was rewarded when, in move that has so often brought success in the past, Wallis-Robinson ran to the blindside from the scrum and fed Norville, who sped away to score in the right corner. Centre Iwan John struck his conversion attempt very well from the right touchline, but he was just wide of the target.  

Second row ‘Treacle’ Knights caught a poor Oxford restart kick, and Postlethwaite and Norville launched an attack. Ashford made ground with a weaving run, but eventually the ball was lost. Oxford counterattacked well through outside half Rory Hobbs, but Wilkinson stole possession back for Abbey and a high kick from Boucher relieved the pressure. Wilkinson brought off a great tackle on home full back Eliot Donaldson, and Oxford conceded another penalty. Wallis-Robinson kicked to the corner, and again Carr won good lineout ball. A movement developed which twice involved Wallis-Robinson, and after Knights got close to the line a brilliant long pass from Norville gave Ashford the room to cross on the left for Abbey’s second try. Iwan John was well wide with his conversion attempt, but Abbey looked good value for their lead after 13 minutes. 

Oxford again kicked a poor restart, with the ball not travelling 10 metres, but when the home backs got possession they began to impress. Centre Callum House did well to bring down left winger Jake Eadle, but the home side continued to attack. Tom McClimont, the other Oxford winger, burst through some rather weak defence, and Donaldson ran clear for his side’s first try. Centre Ben Rowland was unable to convert, but Oxford were in the middle of a mini purple patch. Minutes later they scored again thanks to the pace of the impressive Eadle, and Rowlands converted to give his side the lead.  

Abbey took control of the game again after this, with Wilkinson, Knights and Ashford all running well. Norville and second row Matt Eldridge both handled twice as Abbey probed for a gap in the Oxford defence, and when the home side were penalised Wallis-Robinson again kicked for the corner. Eldridge won the lineout and a tremendous drive resulted in Postlethwaite scoring Abbey’s third try in the right corner. As he had before, Iwan John struck the ball well from the touchline, but his conversion attempt was again off target. 

Wilkinson made ground from the restart kick, and he received support from Eldridge and flanker Blake Callaghan. Abbey were awarded a scrum 40 metres from the home line and Norville made a good break. Once more Abbey were awarded a penalty, but this time they failed to win the subsequent lineout. However, Oxford were penalised again and this time Eldridge won the ball. Wallis-Robinson and Beckly attacked, and yet again Oxford were penalised. With last play called, Iwan John opted to go for goal, and his kick, which kept low but which was on target, gave Abbey a deserved 18-12 half time lead.  

Stephen Bonnett replaced Callaghan at the start of the second half, with Tom Martin coming on for Iwan John. Oxford began the second period well, and after a spell of pressure they scored their third try when hooker Dan Richards crossed from a tapped penalty. Rowlands missed the conversion which would have restored his side’s lead, and Abbey regrouped and soon regained control of the match. A run from Martin took his side into the home 22, and when they were awarded a penalty close to the posts Abbey again opted for a scrum. Norville, Clifford and Bonnett all got close to the line, and when Oxford were penalised again their second row Dan Haywood was shown a yellow card. Abbey chose to take another scrum, and after a patient and well-controlled shove Beckly touched down for the bonus point try. With Iwan John no longer on the field, Ashford took over the kicking duties and nearly landed a tricky conversion effort, promptly blaming a non-existent wind for the miss! 

Zac Mayo joined the action at this point, replacing Dan John, and Abbey set about making the most of the sin-bin period. Beckly, Norville and Ashford combined well, and after Eldridge had won a lineout Abbey were awarded another penalty close to the home posts. Again the scrum option was chosen, and after a good burst of handling involving Boucher, Clifford and Bonnett, Mayo barged over under the posts. This time Ashford converted, and Abbey were 30-17 ahead with the third quarter almost over.  

Haywood returned from the sin bin soon after this, and Oxford went on the attack. A superb break from Hobbs resulted in the ball reaching Eadle wide on the right, and his pace took him clear for the Oxford bonus point try. A brilliant touchline conversion from Rowland reduced Abbey’s lead to six points, and it was clear that the game was not yet over. Fortunately, they upped their game at the right time, and they dominated territory and possession for the next few minutes. They were awarded a scrum on the left inside the home 22, and Beckly’s pass saw Wilkinson break clear to score a deserved try to the right of the posts. Ashford’s important conversion kick made the game look relatively safe with eight minutes left, and soon afterwards Dan John returned for Postlethwaite, who had been injured.  

There were still some worrying moments for Abbey, not least when Hobbs made another brilliant break and nearly found a way to the line. However, Abbey recovered, and a great run from Wallis-Robinson made 30 metres for his side. Wilkinson contributed two more bursts as Abbey got ever closer to the Oxford line, and eventually the ball was passed back to Norville, who landed a superb drop goal. The final whistle sounded immediately afterwards. 

This was an enjoyable game, played in a very good spirit. Oxford lost 58-7 to Abbey in pre-season and have clearly improved since then. Their captain Benny Davies led the backs well, Hobbs was hard to stop and Eadle was a real handful when he was given space on the wing. But Abbey were the better side and deserved their win. Wilkinson was a huge presence, and Beckly and Postlethwaite were as reliable as ever. Carr, Bonnett and Mayo all made important contributions, and as usual Norville directed the backs brilliantly. He and Wallis-Robinson have a great understanding as a half back pairing.  

Abbey have not played Oxford in the league since 1998, and this was both their first ever league win at North Hinksey and their first win of any kind against Oxford’s first team at this venue. The last time Abbey’s first team beat any Oxford side at North Hinksey was when they beat Oxford Nomads in January 1978. The first team’s last win at the ground was against Gosford All Blacks in the Oxford Floodlit Cup in 1980.       

Abbey: M Boucher, L Clifford, C House, I John (T Martin 40), A Ashford, R Norville, S Wallis-Robinson (captain), D John (Z Mayo 50), T Wilkinson, A Postlethwaite (D John 74), J Knights, M Eldridge, D Carr, B Callaghan (S Bonnett 40), M Beckly      

Oxford: E Donaldson, T McClimont, B Davies (captain), B Rowland, J Eadle, R Hobbs, D Beer, R Casserly, D Richards (B Reed 65), J Greenwood, W Boyes, D Haywood, W Ball (T Lockhart 50-72), P Copeland, R Turley. Not used: D Matthews 

Abbey: 

Tries: Norville, Ashford, Postlethwaite, Beckly, Mayo, Wilkinson 

Con: Ashford (2) 

Pen: I John 

DG: Norville  

Oxford: 

Tries: Eadle (2), Donaldson, Richards 

Con: Rowland (2) 

Yellow card: D Haywood 

Referee: P Costello (Oxfordshire)