Sat 26 Feb 2022, 14:30
Reading Abbey 24 Milton Keynes 0
Mark Hoskins
Abbey dominated the territorial battle against Milton Keynes in the clash between the seventh and eighth-placed teams in Tribute Southern Counties North at Rosehill, and they secured a deserved victory against competitive opposition. Three second half tries settled the issue, after Abbey reached half time just 3-0 ahead, and the only disappointment for the home side was that they were unable to get a four-try bonus point.
Conditions were good at Rosehill on a dry, sunny afternoon, although a tricky crosswind caused a few problems for both sides. Flanker Jake Leach, prop Adam Postlethwaite and second row Max Nugent all handled in the opening phases of the game, and a high kick from scrum half Will Bevan sent Abbey into the opposition half. A scrum was awarded, and No.8 Scott Holland picked up and made good ground. Abbey conceded a penalty, but after Milton Keynes missed touch full back Max Boucher made 20 metres before he was tackled. Nathan Merridan, the visitors’ outside centre, made a dangerous break up the left touchline, but Abbey won a penalty when he was tackled. Winger Ollie Evans found a good touch, and after Nugent had won the lineout Milton Keynes were penalised again. Evans went for the posts from 38 metres out, but his effort swirled in the wind and dropped just wide.
Abbey’s scrum was looking very secure against solid opposition, and they continued to play the game in the visitors’ half. Hooker Mark Toland and winger Christian Floyd both made ground, and Abbey were awarded a scrum 15 metres from the line. Bevan broke to the blindside when the ball was won, and he was stopped just short of the line. This was the closest Abbey came to a try in the first half. Toland was replaced by Lewis Jones just after this, and straight afterwards Abbey were awarded a penalty in the Milton Keynes 22. This time Evans made no mistake with his kick to give his side a deserved lead.
Milton Keynes attacked briefly from the restart, but good talking from Nugent and Leach halted the threat. The visitors were then forced to make two injury replacements, a recurrent problem for them throughout the match. Abbey attacked again, with centre Billy Parrish prominent, and when the visitors ran the ball back, centre Callum House did well to tackle winger Vince Clark into touch. Skipper ‘Treacle’ Knights won the subsequent lineout, and outside half Charlie Shackleford burst through the middle. Bevan, Nugent and Parrish all handled as Abbey made it to the edge of the visitors’ 22, but they were then penalised. A great tackle by flanker Gereie Sutherland halted another good run from Merridan, and there were further important tackles from House and Shackleford as Milton Keynes tried to move the ball downfield. Inside centre Brad Scharff, who looked as impressive as his partner Merridan, nearly broke through, but a good tackle from Floyd stopped him. The final minutes of the half saw Sutherland and prop Matt Woodrow attacking inside the Milton Keynes half, but the first 40 minutes ended with Abbey, for all their dominance, still just 3-0 ahead.
Abbey began the second half with Toland back on in place of Jones and Ross Jaffray in the back row in place of Sutherland. Boucher made an excellent catch from a high kick, and Bevan, House and Nugent handled as Abbey attacked. A good period of pressure in the Milton Keynes 22 followed, with Abbey’s scrum looking well in control. The visitors were penalised at a scrum for a dummy feed, and Abbey confidently opted to scrummage again in the shadow of the posts. Bevan moved the ball to the left when the ball was won, and after Parrish burst through the defence Woodrow was up in support to score Abbey’s opening try. Evans added a superb conversion from close to the left touchline.
Milton Keynes enjoyed a rare spell of territorial advantage from the restart, with Merridan making a good 30-metre burst. But Abbey were soon back on the attack, with Leach, Postlethwaite and Parrish combining well. A great spell of pressure saw Bevan, Nugent, Boucher and Shackleford work the ball up to the line, and Leach dived over, only to be held up. Milton Keynes had to drop out from their own line, and a poor kick was collected by Bevan, He instantly fed Parrish, and the centre charged through the defence to score a great individual try under the posts. The conversion for Evans was a formality, and Abbey led 17-0 after an hour of play, At this point Sutherland came back on in place of Holland.
Milton Keynes suffered further injury disruption as the second half progressed, and by the end they had various players out of position, with centre Scharff for example playing at No.8. Abbey almost scored again when Shackleford broke through on a great run, only to lose the ball as he dived for the line. Evans was replaced soon after this, with Jules Greenaway joining the action. He was involved at once, tackling replacement Adam Howe, and he was quick to inform spectators that he had made “an instant impact!”
Abbey now began to look increasingly dominant, with Sutherland in rampant form. Woodrow, Boucher and Leach all supported one of his incisive bursts, and Abbey set up camp in the visitors’ 22 once more. Sutherland charged again and got close to the line, and Leach was up in support to crown a hardworking display with a well-deserved try. With Evans off the field, Shackleford added the conversion. Jones rejoined the action in place of Woodrow, and Abbey went in search of a fourth try. Jaffray ran well, and Floyd chased his own kick ahead down the right touchline, but there was never really a clear-cut try-scoring opportunity in the last few minutes. The final whistle sounded with Abbey very much in charge but well short of Milton Keynes line.
This was a very satisfying victory for Abbey against a good side. There is no doubt that Milton Keynes were badly affected by a series of injuries, but Abbey controlled the match for long periods. Leach, Nugent and Sutherland all impressed. Bevan, as usual, directed play superbly at scrum half and Parrish was the pick of the threequarter line. A tricky challenge awaits Abbey at Reading next Saturday, but they will feel buoyed by this win.
Abbey: M Boucher, C Floyd, C House, W Parrish, O Evans (J Greenaway 69), C Shackleford, W Bevan, M Woodrow (L Jones 73), M Toland (L Jones 20-40), A Postlethwaite, J Knights (captain), M Nugent, J Leach, G Sutherland (R Jaffray 40), S Holland (G Sutherland 60)
Milton Keynes: L Tribe (A Yabsley 28), C McMuran, N Merridan, B Scharff, V Clark, J Murphy, O Brown (L Tribe 51), G Thomas (captain), R Herzog, J Perkins (S Alvah 26), J Pickles (A Howe 63), D Christer, O Harrison (J Perkins 40), B Pearson, A Teckoe (O Brown 60)
Abbey:
Tries: Woodrow, Parrish, Leach
Con: Evans (2), Shackleford
Pen: Evans
Referee: J Rainford (Berkshire)
