Sat 10 Sep 2022, 15:00
Abbey took to the road for the first time this season to face a Gosford All Blacks side they’d beaten twice last campaign.There were six players across the squad making their debuts. From the start Abbey’s pack dominated the set piece with some powerful scrummaging. Abbey’s flanker Jack Botham impressed in his first game with some important turnovers. The home side’s fullback soon made the first of many dangerous runs into the visitors half before Abbey regained possession. The home side continued to infringe at the breakdown giving Abbey valuable territory, and the line outs were as solid as the scrums. Abbey continued to work well through the phases with Ed House making a strong line break, and some probing kicks from Mike Beckly and Sol Robinson. For the first of several occasions the Gosford captain was spoken to about repeated penalties. After an exchange of kicks the Gosford fullback broke through the Abbey defence to run in from halfway. Abbey responded quickly and decisively with some excellent phrase play and hard running by Gerrrie Sutherland and Matthew Woodrow. With a free ball Ollie Evan’s sent a superb cross field kick into the hands of Abbey’s fullback Iwan John who ran in unopposed. 7-7 after twenty minutes. Gosford kept possession for the next few phases with Abbey’s defence holding up well. Scrum half Sol Robinson continued to support his dominant pack by disrupting Gosford’s number eight and scrum half during the home side’s scrums.Penalties were exchanged and it was 10-10 at half time.An early Gosford penalty saw the home side go into the lead before a killer blow for the visitors. Gosford’s out half intercepted the ball on halfway and ran in under the posts. The conversion made it 20-10 to the home side. Tom Bird made a long awaited return to Abbey’s senior side after several years away. Another impressive run from Ed House pushed Abbey deep into Gosford’s half. Another penalty set up a superb driving maul which was excellently converted by debutant Robert Carr. 20-17. Unfortunately Abbey failed to deal with the retake and some soft tackling saw Gosford strike back with a try immediately. It was converted making it 27-17. Abbey pushed hard in the last few minutes for another try to secure at least a losing bonus point. They were banked on the home side’s line, and only infringements at the breakdown by the home side stopped them scoring. Abbey opted to go for the posts in the last play but Ollie Evan’s kick drifted to the right and wide.Despite the defeat Abbey should be encouraged by large aspects of their performance, especially given they had several young players gaining heir first gap. The set piece was very solid, and the pack dominated the breakdown. A few breakaways proved the difference, but Abbey should be excited what the mix of experienced heads and young blood can produce in the season ahead.MOTM- Gerrie Sutherland
