Sat 12 Nov 2022
Reading Abbey 29 Bletchley 24
Mark Hoskins
Abbey showed tremendous character to clinch a precious bonus point victory over Bletchley in Counties 1 Tribute Southern North. The game was tied at 19-all going into the final ten minutes, but a spectacular burst to the line from hooker Ollie Charlton put Abbey into the lead, and a touchline conversion by outside half Olly Evans, who later added a penalty, gave the home side the spoils. The match featured encouraging debuts off the bench for winger Furio Dawkins and hooker Finn Barnard-Weston.
Flanker Jack Brown caught Bletchley’s kick-off, and after the visitors had caught skipper Sol Wallis-Robinson’s high kick, brilliant counter-rucking from second row Chris Shaw won possession back for Abbey. Full back Max Boucher took play into the Bletchley 22, but Abbey conceded a scrum. Hugo Govett, the Bletchley captain, made the first of many threatening runs from the set piece, but the ball was knocked on, giving Abbey a scrum on the Bletchley 22. No.8 Kieran Sweeney and winger Darren Hunter attacked up the right, and when play was switched to the left, flanker Jack Danton ran a great line to create space out wide. Centre Tom Bird sent a clever kick to the corner, and Boucher was up in support to cross the line for a fourth-minute try. Evans struck a brilliant conversion from near the left touchline to crown his side’s dream start.
Danton caught the restart kick, but Abbey soon conceded a penalty and Bletchley attacked. The visitors moved the ball rapidly across the home 22, but Hunter rescued Abbey with a tackle on winger Alex Easton just five metres from the line. Evans kicked clear, and second row Matt Eldridge stole the ensuing lineout. However, Bletchley were soon back in possession, and Abbey conceded a penalty in a very kickable position in their 22. Bletchley chose to take a scrum, but Abbey winger George Goodenough managed to stop Govett’s driving run. However, Bletchley continued to batter at the line, and scrum half Ciaran Murphy touched down for his side’s first try. Full back Kelvin Rudkin’s conversion attempt dipped just under the bar. Abbey suffered a double injury blow at this stage with Goodenough coming off following his brave tackle and prop Dave Robinson also departing. Dawkins and Barnard-Weston replaced them.
Dawkins was involved at once with a brilliant tackle, and Abbey were soon back in the visitors’ 22. They held their own at a scrum 30 metres from the Bletchley line, but after Evans and Hunter attacked down the right the ball was lost. The visitors were soon on the attack again, with Easton and centre Callum Hudson both making ground. Hudson, who normally plays on the flank, was always a threat with his running. Abbey conceded another penalty under their posts, but after the visitors took a quick tap, Shaw’s tackle won his side a penalty. Boucher showed great pace as Abbey tried to attack from deep, but another run from Hudson put them on the back foot again. It was end to end stuff now, and Abbey were soon close to the Bletchley line again, with both Dawkins and Wallis-Robinson being held just short. Centre Keegan Timmermans was injured at this point, but he was able to play on after receiving attention. After this it was Bletchley’s turn to attack again, and they took the lead following a series of drives when prop Luke Cooper barged over the line. This time Rudkin converted, and the half time whistle sounded soon afterwards with the visitors leading 12-7.
Abbey started the second half as brightly as they had started the first, with Evans and Bird taking play into the 22. Evans kicked to the corner following a penalty, and Eldridge won the throw. Brown and Sweeney both drove towards the line, and when the ball was recycled prop Adam Postlethwaite plunged over for a try. Evans again converted to restore his side’s lead. After this, the game swung back Bletchley’s way again, with flanker Jamie Rice and big centre Sam Kissi-Dankyi putting in several dangerous runs. Eventually, Rice burst through the middle to create the space for hooker Matt Osborne to cross for a try on the left. Rudkin had gone off injured just beforehand, so replacement half Dean Williams attempted the conversion, which went over via the bar.
With Bletchley now 19-14 up on the hour mark, Abbey risked using their remaining fit replacement, with James Gadd coming on for Barnard-Weston. Danton and Dawkins mounted an attack in the Bletchley half, and when the visitors were penalised Hudson was shown a yellow card. Evans sent an excellent kick to the corner, and Shaw was held just short of the line after the lineout. Abbey pressed again, and after further drives from Shaw and Wallis-Robinson, Brown touched down for Abbey’s third try. Evans attempted the conversion which would have restored his side’s lead if successful, but the ball bounced wide off a post. It was his only miss of the day.
With the scores now level, Abbey received a further boost when Easton followed Hudson into the sin-bin. Gadd, Shaw and Wallis-Robinson all drove towards the line, but there was a baffling reluctance to move the ball wide inside the 22 despite Abbey having a two-man advantage. Eventually, with just four minutes of normal time remaining, a clever pass from Wallis-Robinson put Charlton in the clear, and he reminded everyone that he used to play on the wing by dashing clear and crossing for Abbey’s bonus point try. The try was scored wide on the left, but Evans sent over a brilliant conversion to make the score 26-19.
Bletchley attacked strongly from the restart, with Boucher doing well to stop Govett. In the final minute of normal time, replacement Cameron Lucas crossed for his side’s fourth try in the right corner. A successful conversion from Williams would have tied the scores again, but his kick dropped well short. With the first of Bletchley’s two binning periods over, Abbey needed to keep the visitors on the back foot, and Evans sensibly sent the restart kick into the visitors’ 22. The second binning period was soon over, but Abbey stayed in the visitors’ half, with Dawkins, Sweeney and Charlton all attacking well. Then Bletchley conceded a penalty inside their own 22, and the wise decision was made to go for goal. It was the only time in the entire match that either side had gone for goal from a penalty, and Evans landed the pressure kick with aplomb.
There was still time after this for more action, and Bletchley took a short kick-off which Eldridge managed to catch. Barnard-Weston replaced Brown for the final play, and after some fine defence in the Abbey half, the home side were awarded a penalty, which Wallis-Robinson booted into touch to seal a very welcome victory.
This was a game of fluctuating fortunes, and Bletchley certainly deserved the two points they gleaned from the afternoon. However, an Abbey side lacking several first choice selections defended magnificently against some big, powerful players, and victory was deserved. This was a real team effort, with newcomers and veterans combing brilliantly in a crucial win. Tough tasks lie ahead, but the side will derive huge encouragement from an entertaining afternoon of rugby.
Abbey: M Boucher, D Hunter, K Timmermans, T Bird, G Goodenough (F Dawkins 15), O Evans, S Wallis-Robinson (captain), A Postlethwaite (F Barnard-Weston 85), O Charlton, D Robinson (F Barnard-Weston 15, J Gadd 60), M Eldridge, C Shaw, J Danton, J Brown, K Sweeney
Bletchley: K Rudkin (D Williams), A Easton, S Kissi-Dankyi, C Hudson, J Waite, J Lawrence, C Murphy, L Cooper (A Briggs 35), M Osborne, J Sprules (L Cooper 36-74), P Denton, O Britten, J Rice, J Murray (C Lucas 66), H Govett (captain)
Abbey:
Tries: Boucher, Postlethwaite, Brown, Charlton
Con: Evans (3)
Pen: Evans
Bletchley:
Tries: Murphy, Cooper, Osborne, Lucas
Con: Rudkin, Williams
Yellow cards:
Bletchley: Hudson, Easton
Referee: F Gray (Bristol
