Sat 3 Sep 2022
Reading Abbey 13 Chinnor 3rds 41
Mark Hoskins
Chinnor Wildboys were too strong for Abbey in the opening Counties 1 Tribute Southern North match of the season, but the home side battled well and deserved more from the game in terms of points. The visitors had a large, mobile pack and a slick backline, but Abbey were competitive throughout, with second row Chris Shaw putting in a particularly impressive 80-minute shift.
In the absence of injured skipper ‘Treacle’ Knights, scrum half Sol Wallis Robinson captained Abbey for the first time, while Mike Beckly was a late addition to the original selection for the match, replacing Charlie Shackleford. Chinnor conceded early ground when they kicked the ball out on the full, and Abbey second row Max Nugent won good lineout ball. Prop Adam Postlethwaite and flanker Gereie Sutherland both drove well, but a penalty was conceded. Chinnor took a quick tap and immediately looked dangerous. Winger Toby Cooke went on a long run almost up to the home line, and full back Josh Smith was up in support to score in the left corner after just four minutes of play. Outside half Harry Lowe was just wide with the conversion attempt.
Abbey full back Max Boucher, who consistently looked to play a positive, attacking game when the ball came his way, ran well after the restart, and good work by Shaw, Sutherland and winger Callum House took play to the Chinnor 22. Here the visitors were penalised, and outside half Ollie Evans landed his side’s first points of the game with a straightforward kick. Sutherland caught the Chinnor restart kick and attempted to launch an attack, and after Chinnor were penalised again Evans kicked for touch. Shaw won excellent possession at the lineout, and Beckly and prop Matt Woodrow both made driving runs. Unfortunately, Abbey were then penalised twice in quick succession – once for crossing and once for not rolling away. Chinnor counterattacked well, and after a good bout of handling centre Sam Hicks crossed for his side’s second try, with Lowe this time adding the extras. Soon after this, Abbey suffered a blow when Callum House had to leave the field with a shoulder injury, Alex Ashford replacing him.
Sixteen minutes had been played before we saw the first scrum of the match. It was Abbey’s ball, and despite being squeezed they secured possession. Wallis-Robinson and hooker Zac Mayo linked well, but a penalty was conceded. No.8 Scott Holland, Boucher and Evans all featured in the next bout of passing, before debutant centre Keegan Timmermans put in a good long kick. Sadly, another penalty went Chinnor’s way, and they kicked down to the home 22. A drive to the line ensued, and hooker Eddie Church plunged over for the third try of the afternoon, Lowe converting well from wide out.
Chinnor attacked relentlessly after this, but Wallis-Robinson sent them back with a clever kick and Beckly put in a great tackle on prop Sam Ludgate. Then Mayo relieved the pressure by intercepting a pass near his own line. But Chinnor were not to be denied, and after a sustained period of pressure they moved the ball wide to the left and Smith crossed for a second time to get his side’s bonus point. Lowe could not convert this time.
Nearly half an hour had gone now and Abbey trailed 24-3, but for the rest of the first half they enjoyed a good spell in the opposition half and deservedly came away with some points. Shaw and Sutherland were frequently involved as Abbey retained possession and worked a series of phases near the visitors’ 22. Holland, Timmermans and flanker Ed House linked well, and winger Matt Ellis nearly put Boucher in the clear. Advantage was then played after a Chinnor infringement, and when none transpired Evans took a tap penalty in the right corner. The ball was moved to the left, and Woodrow, Shaw, Ashford and Postlethwaite all handled before Wallis-Robinson and Beckly were held just short of the line. The ball was then recycled to Shaw, and he drove over for a richly-deserved score to which Evans added the extras.
Shaw was instantly involved again, catching the Chinnor restart kick and linking well with Sutherland. Wallis-Robinson sent up a high kick, and when Chinnor ran the ball back Holland did well to stop winger Ben McIntosh. Ashford put in a good run for Abbey, and after more work from Ellis, Shaw and Woodrow, Boucher made 20 metres with a clever run. The result of this spell of possession and pressure was an Abbey scrum in the Chinnor 22, but before it took place Sutherland was replaced by Matt Eldridge. Scrum ball was duly secured, and after good work from Evans and Ashford, Beckly was stopped close to the line. Chinnor were penalised, and Evans ended the half by taking the score to 24-13 with another successful penalty kick.
Ollie Charlton replaced Mayo in the Abbey front row at the start of the second half, but Abbey were unable to build on their promising end to the opening 40 minutes. Chinnor were soon putting pressure on the home line, and after Abbey were penalised second row Sam Jones dived over after a quick tap. Lowe left the field injured at this point, so Cooke attempted the conversion without success. Chinnor continued to dominate, and they soon scored again. Nugent brought off a good tackle to halt flanker Tom Alexander, but the ball was moved wide to the left and Church had room to cross for his second and his side’s sixth try. Cooke again failed with the conversion.
Abbey attempted to attack after this, and Mayo and Sutherland returned to the action in place of Woodrow and Holland. Shaw won clean lineout ball, and Eldridge and Beckly moved the ball upfield. Abbey continued to win their own scrums, despite always being put under pressure, but after Ed House had stopped a run from Alexander, Chinnor skipper Dan Coulon picked up a loose ball and sprinted 30 metres for a great individual try. Hicks was now handed the kicking duties and he converted to make the score 41-13.
There was still a fair bit of time left at this stage, but there was no further scoring. If anything, Abbey looked the more likely to cross the line, enjoying a similar spell to that which concluded the first half. Boucher twice broke clear, and a long spell of Abbey possession in the Chinnor 22 saw Shaw get close to the line once more. Woodrow came on again for Mayo just before the end as Abbey continued to attack, but further points eluded them.
This was a clean, well-contested game played in a very good spirit. Several of the Chinnor forwards stood out, especially No.8 Liam Gilbert, while Cooke always looked a handful on the wing. It would be unfair to criticise Abbey’s efforts in the face of such strong opposition. They never gave up and it was a shame they couldn’t snatch a consolation try in the dying minutes. Chinnor Wildboys look likely title contenders even at this early stage of the season, and Abbey should take heart from this performance and hope for a better outcome when they visit Gosford All Blacks next Saturday.
Abbey: M Boucher, C House (A Ashford 16), K Timmermans, M Beckly, M Ellis, O Evans S Wallis-Robinson (captain), M Woodrow (Z Mayo 52- 76), Z Mayo (O Charlton 40), A Postlethwaite, C Shaw, M Nugent, G Sutherland (M Eldridge 37), E House, S Holland (G Sutherland 54)
Chinnor: J Smith, T Cooke, S Hicks, R Nichols, B McIntosh, H Lowe (E Cullen 44), D Coulon (captain), S Ludgate, E Church, A Boddy (K Crockford 49), S Jones (T Inman 67), M Jones, T Inman (B Mulholland 49), T Alexander, L Gilbert (S Jones 72)
Abbey:
Try: Shaw
Con: Evans
Pen: Evans (2)
Chinnor:
Tries: Smith (2), Church (2), Hicks, S Jones, Coulon
Con: Lowe (2), Hicks
Referee: P Lee (Berkshire)
