Sat 8 Nov 2025, 14:00
Reading Abbey 24 Gosford All Blacks 17
Mark Hoskins
Abbey survived a late scare to defeat a very competitive Gosford All Blacks side on a beautiful autumnal afternoon at Rosehill. In the final play of the game Patrick Mackenzie, one of the visitors’ locks, broke clear and was tackled just short of the line. Replacement Ethan Mackenzie was up in support but he just failed to take what would have been a try-scoring pass. Had he scored, a simple conversion would have drawn the game. Abbey’s victory puts them in sixth place in Counties 1 Tribute Ale Southern North, while Gosford remain winless after six rounds of matches.
Abbey started strongly, with second row ‘Treacle’ Knights and flanker Scott Rennie making good breaks, but the visitors looked ominously solid at the first scrum. Skipper Rhys Andrews and his fellow flanker Gabriel Knopp began to find gaps in the home defence, and it was Knopp who punched a big hole on the right inside the Abbey 22. Outside half Paddy Fitzgerald was up in support and he sped over for the opening try. Winger George Pamenter was unable to convert.
Centre Max Boucher did well to steal the ball in a tackle. He made ten metres and fed Leo Clifford, but the winger was stopped short of the line. Full back Tom Martin launched a good passing movement which featured hooker Tom Wilkinson and half backs Reuben Norville and skipper Sol Wallis-Robinson. Gosford won a scrum inside their 22, but a brilliant piece of counter rucking gave Wallis-Robinson the chance to move the ball to the right. Second row Chris Shaw and prop Zac Mayo both handled, and then Norville sent a long pass to Martin. The full back ran clear to touch down in the right corner to equalise the score. Centre Iwan John struck his conversion attempt well, but the ball drifted wide.
Abbey continued to look good after this, with Knights winning regular lineout ball and Boucher and winger Furio Dawkins making ground. Following a penalty, Wallis-Robinson kicked the ball into the Gosford 22, and Knights again won clean lineout possession. A tremendous 20-metre drive ensued, and it concluded with Mayo plunging over for a try on the right. Once again Iwan John was wide with the conversion attempt, but Abbey looked good value for their lead after 21 minutes.
Two minutes later, things were looking even better for Abbey. Knights stole possession, and when the visitors were penalised Wallis-Robinson took a quick tap. He was supported by Wilkinson and No.8 Matt Eldridge, and then Boucher sprinted away on a superb run. He initially headed for the right corner, but a brilliant change of direction outwitted the defence and he crossed the line close to the posts. Iwan John’s conversion put Abbey 17-5 up.
Prop Dan John made three metres for Abbey from the restart, but Gosford began to look dangerous after this. Martin did well to stop his opposite number Ellis Murphy, and then flanker David Carr pulled off a superb tackle to halt a dangerous break from Patrick Mackenzie. After this Boucher halted a run from winger Tim Price and Abbey recycled the ball. Norville worked it to Shaw on the right and the second row’s pass looked to have created a second try for Martin. Unfortunately, Abbey’s full back lost the ball as he dived for the line. Two minutes later Gosford were right back in the game. Andrews made a brilliant 40- metre break from a penalty, and he just managed to hold off the defence to score on the right. Pamenter again missed the conversion, and there was no further scoring in the first half, leaving Abbey 17-10 ahead.
Abbey suffered a blow at half time with Wallis-Robinson coming off with an injury. George Goodenough replaced him, slotting in at centre with Iwan John going to outside half and Norville taking over at scrum half. At the same time, Ryan Williams came on for Mayo. After six minutes of the half the scores were level when Knopp broke clear to score a try which Pamenter converted. Play got very scrappy for a while after this, with both sides making handling errors. Gosford looked stronger up front, but their backs failed to take advantage of the possession the pack provided, while Abbey lost several lineouts and looked vulnerable in the scrum. One superb run from Boucher made 50 metres, and Rennie too made a good break, but Abbey could not apply sustained pressure.
After 54 minutes Rennie departed with an injury, with Blake Callaghan replacing him. Soon afterwards, Martin made a good break from near his own line, and another promising move featuring Dawkins, Williams and Boucher ended when the ball was knocked on. However, Abbey were gradually getting the upper hand, and they eventually set up a position inside the visitors’ 22. Two penalties followed, with several Abbey forwards being held up just short of the line. A third penalty was awarded right under the posts, and Abbey again went for the line. This time Wilkinson took the ball and powered over for the bonus point try, with Iwan Evans adding a crucial conversion.
Wilkinson came off straight after this, with Mayo returning in his place. A fantastic break involving Boucher, Dawkins and Martin made 70 metres, but the final minutes of the game belonged to Gosford. They won a lineout 40 metres from the home line and Patrick Mackenzie stormed upfield. Martin was able to stop him, and Ewan Mackenzie failed to control the ball on the line when a try looked a certainty. The final whistle sounded immediately, and Abbey had survived to claim victory.
It has to be admitted that Abbey were slightly fortunate to emerge victorious from this game. A neutral observer might have felt that a draw would have been the fairest result. Despite their lowly position in the league, Gosford All Blacks were competitive throughout, and with a pack like theirs they did not remotely resemble relegation fodder. However, Abbey came good at the right time to score the crucial try. Knights was a consistent presence in the pack, while Mayo, Carr and Wilkinson also impressed. Boucher, Martin and Dawkins all made exciting runs, while Norville was as usual the consummate tactician, both at outside half and scrum half. Abbey now look forward to a visit to Bracknell 2nds, who are one place below them in the table.
Abbey: T Martin, L Clifford, M Boucher, I John, F Dawkins, R Norville, S Wallis-Robinson (captain, G Goodenough 40), D John, T Wilkinson (Z Mayo 70), Z Mayo (R Williams 40), J Knights, C Shaw, S Rennie (B Callaghan 54), D Carr, M Eldridge
Gosford All Blacks: E Murphy, G Pamenter, S Malton, W Galant (J Townsend 65), T Price, P Fitzgerald, K Broderson, T Bates (L Donnelly 65), T Heydon, E Rees (T Bates 74), L Burbidge (E Mackenzie 55), P Mackenzie, G Knopp, R Andrews (captain), J Rodgers
Abbey:
Tries: Martin, Mayo, Boucher, Wilkinson
Con: I John (2)
Gosford All Blacks:
Tries: Fitzgerald, Andrews, Knopp
Con: Pamenter
Referee: R Reilly (Berkshire)
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