Sat 11 Dec 2021, 14:30
Reading Abbey 26 High Wycombe 29
Mark Hoskins
Abbey failed to grasp a golden opportunity to claim victory in the final minutes of a game of contrasting fortunes at Rosehill, eventually losing by three points to High Wycombe. The closing stages of the contest saw the home side awarded a series of penalties inside the visitors’ 22, and with two High Wycombe players in the sin bin Abbey elected for a scrum each time. Unfortunately, they couldn’t quite get it right against a brave defence, and they had to settle for a losing bonus point.
It all started much more brightly, with Abbey building up a 13-0 lead inside the opening 15 minutes. The first scrum of the game came almost instantly after the kick off, and Abbey’s eight looked very solid. No.8 Mike Beckly broke from the back of the scrum and made five metres, and outside half Ben Radford found a good touch after High Wycombe were penalised. Flanker Max Nugent produced the first of several good clean lineout catches, and centre Charlie Shackleford made a great 25 metre burst, after which High Wycombe were penalised again. From Nugent’s second lineout win, second row Sam Hallett, scrum half Sol Wallis-Robinson and prop Ollie Charlton all made ground before Abbey won yet another penalty. This time Radford was within range of the posts and he landed a good goal from 30 metres to give his side a deserved lead after five minutes.
High Wycombe restarted with a short kick, and Radford sent Abbey back up the field. Centre Callum House supported well, and after a High Wycombe knock-on, Abbey’s scrum again looked secure. Radford kicked ahead again and House, following up, forced visitors’ full back Mark Croome to knock on. This gave Abbey a scrum just ten metres from the High Wycombe line. Beckly again broke from the base of the scrum, and Hallett was up in support, plunging over the line just to the left of the posts for a good try. Radford’s conversion took Abbey to 10-0 after ten minutes.
High Wycombe’s restart kick was not a good one, and winger Max Boucher counterattacked well before being forced into touch. Wallis-Robinson pinched possession after a wayward lineout throw, and his crosskick saw Beckly and skipper ‘Treacle’ Knights make ground. Once again a penalty was awarded to Abbey, and Radford was successful again, this time from 35 metres out on the left of the pitch. From the restart kick hooker Zac Mayo ran the ball well, and Abbey were soon scrummaging again in the opposition half. The position was a promising one, but after a good burst from Hallett, Radford’s pass was intercepted by centre Harry Tanner. He had 60 metres in front of him and was chased all the way to the line, but he cut inside to claim an opportunist try, which winger James Shuck converted. The opening quarter concluded with Abbey 13-7 ahead, having conceded points very much against the run of play.
Two minutes later, Radford put the disappointment of the interception behind him with another well-struck penalty, this time from 40 metres. Unfortunately, Nugent knocked on the restart kick, and soon after this High Wycombe won a penalty. They kicked for the corner, but to Abbey’s relief the lineout throw was not straight. Wallis Robinson sent up a high kick, and Knights and Shackleford took the ball into the visitors’ half. High Wycombe then counterattacked, but a good tackle from winger Jon Malivoire forced Shuck to knock on. After the scrum, full back Will Bevan made a break before Abbey conceded another penalty. Again High Wycombe failed to keep the ball at the lineout, and flanker Scott Holland made ground before Radford found a good touch.
Abbey attacked well through drives from Beckly, Hallett and prop Adam Postlethwaite, but possession was lost. A good tackle from Charlton on outside half Matt Wardle soon won the ball back again, and Holland and Hallett ran it back into the High Wycombe 22. The visitors regained possession in what was by no means a threatening position, but a tackle on Shuck was missed and the winger kicked downfield. He followed up his own kick very well, and although he was stopped short of the line, replacement flanker Rohan Girling was up in support to score. Again the try was against the run of play, cutting Abbey’s lead to 16-12. Shuck’s conversion attempt went well wide of the posts and the half time whistle sounded.
Abbey started the second half with Will Parrish, Christian Floyd and Matt Woodrow on for Holland, Malivoire and Charlton. High Wycombe No.8 Zak Gregory, who was brought on and off at regular intervals throughout the match, always looked dangerous in possession, and he made one of several good breaks as the visitors began to look a threat. Gregory’s run took play into the Abbey 22, and a good move ended with Wardle crossing for a try to the left of the posts. Shuck converted, and Abbey were behind for the first time. Abbey regrouped with a good move involving Parrish, Boucher and Bevan, but a penalty was conceded. Shuck landed a good goal, and High Wycombe were 22-16 ahead after 50 minutes.
Abbey needed to rally after these setbacks, and they did so impressively. Boucher charged down a High Wycombe kick, and Abbey were awarded a scrum ten metres from the line. Joe Openshaw, the visitors’ scrum half, was penalised for offside, and Abbey scrummaged again. Bevan made break to within two metres of the line, and Hallett was on hand to barge over for his and Abbey’s second try. Radford’s simple conversion regained the lead.
Floyd made a brilliant 45 metre break from the restart, after which Charlton returned in place of Mayo, with Holland coming on for Hallett. Abbey looked to be in charge once again, with Floyd again making ground. Bevan, Knights and Woodrow all supported well, and Abbey got another penalty. This was Radford’s longest effort, not far short of 50 metres, but he struck it superbly to give Abbey a 26-22 advantage after an hour of play. Unfortunately, Parrish was shown a yellow card soon afterwards for obstructing a tapped penalty, However, Abbey survived the ten minutes while he was off the field and didn’t look in any real danger. Ironically, it was just after Parrish’s return that Abbey conceded a fourth try. A massive drive from the visitors’ pack, with skipper Joff Forber very much to the fore, resulted in flanker Dan Keir touching down close to the posts to give his side a bonus point, with Shuck again converting.
Six minutes plus injury time now remained, and Hallett returned to the action again in place of Holland. Abbey were awarded a scrum ten metres from the line, and Gregory was shown a yellow card. Abbey opted for another scrum, but Postlethwaite was held just short of the line. Advantage was being played and another penalty was awarded, and again Abbey chose a scrum. This time, as advantage was again played, Beckly was stopped just short. Wardle was binned, reducing High Wycombe to thirteen players, and another scrum was called. Logic suggested that Abbey would keep the ball tight and drive for the line, but Wallis-Robinson tried to move the ball and High Wycombe got possession. This seemed like the end for Abbey as 45 minutes had now been played, but there was clearly time left, and yet again High Wycombe were penalised. One final scrum saw Bevan take over at scrum half. The scrum was wheeled, possession was lost, and Abbey’s frustration was complete when High Wycombe kicked the ball out.
Abbey really should have won the game at the end. Tighter game management should have ensured that the ball did not leave the rear of the scrum, and with High Wycombe two men down and being constantly penalised, a penalty try was a real possibility. Equally, there was the option for Abbey to cut their losses and ask Radford to go for goal; he had not missed the target all afternoon. High Wycombe for their part will point to the fact that they scored four tries to Abbey’s two, although the first two were certainly avoidable as far as Abbey were concerned. For Abbey, Mayo looked lively, Radford kicked well from the tee, Hallett was a tower of strength and Floyd looked dangerous whenever he had the ball. Abbey are now eighth in Tribute Southern Counties North, and they face a tough trip to second-placed Stow-on-the-Wold next Saturday.
Finally, a word of thanks goes to referee Kalvin Withers of Berkshire, who, with his impending retirement, was officiating at Rosehill for the last time.
Abbey: W Bevan, M Boucher, C House, C Shackleford, J Malivoire (C Floyd 40), B Radford, S Wallis-Robinson, O Charlton (M Woodrow 40), Z Mayo (O Charlton 58), A Postlethwaite, J Knights (captain), S Hallett (S Holland 58), S Holland (W Parrish 40, S Hallett 77), M Nugent, M Beckly
High Wycombe: M Croome, E Hearne (Z Gregory 63), H Tanner, G Butters, J Shuck, M Wardle, J Openshaw, A Hooker, S Tolhurst (Z Gregory 30, J Butler 50), T Boardman, J Holloman (S Tolhurst 70), J Forber (captain), D Keir, H Knightley (A Nuthall 36), Z Gregory (R Girling 18)
Abbey:
Tries: Hallett (2)
Con: Radford (2)
Pen: Radford (4)
Yellow card: Parrish
High Wycombe:
Tries: Tanner, Girling, Wardle, Keir
Con: Shuck (3)
Pen: Shuck
Yellow cards: Gregory, Wardle
Referee: K Withers (Berkshire)
