18Nov
READING 21 READING ABBEY 17
report by Peter Chidgey
Counties 1 Tribute Southern NorthA try on debut by Reading centre Harry Morgan gave his side a win in a closelyfought derby match. Reading’s second half performance was enough to justifytheir win but Reading Abbey were always in the game and had chances to stealit up to the final whistle.The first half was a predictably tight encounter between two teams withbroadly similar league records. The Reading scrum was clearly dominant butAbbey’s line out work was better giving them a plentiful supply of ball.Both sides had their chances but defences dominated for the most part.Indiscipline and handling errors also helped to restrict the scoring to an Abbeytry which came late in the half. This was from a line out near the Reading linewhere a well organised driving maul made it to the line with Roger Williamstouching down to give Abbey a 5-0 lead that they took into the break.Abbey spectacularly increased their lead from the second half kick off withcentre Brendan Clarke claiming the ball then both showing strength, to initiallybeat the Reading defensive line and speed, to outstrip the cover defence toscore an unconverted try.But it was Reading who then dominated for most of the rest of the half, usingtheir scrum superiority they pinned Abbey back in their own territory for longperiods and eventually the pressure told.From a scrum in the Abbey 22, Reading pushed the Abbey pack backwardstying in the back row which allowed Alex Rowe to burst through the centre toscore under the posts for Sam Bowers to convert.Reading continued to press and Sam Andrews of Abbey was yellow carded forinfringing after Will Proctor-Searle took a quick penalty. Reading made use ofthe extra man when after good work from Lewis Donnelly, Ryan Smith andSteve King, the ball was moved along the line to Jake Clift who scored in thecorner. Bowers converted from the touchline to give Reading a 14-10 lead.Reading’s lead was short lived as from the kick off Abbey won a penalty andsecured a line out deep in Reading territory where an efficient line out drivetook them over the line in almost a mirror image of their first try. Dan Johnclaimed the try and Sol Wallace -Robinson converted to give Abbey a 14-17lead.
Reading were soon back in Abbey territory and after Clift just failed to score hissecond try, another strong scrum from Reading put them on the front foot andthe ball was slipped from Bowers to Morgan who charged over near the postsfor Bowers to convert and put Reading’s lead up to 21-17.Reading almost immediately added another try when Jamie McIntyre was heldup over the line after a good break by Jos Clark. The game ended with Abbey inpossession but this time they could not make the most of a line out in Readingterritory and the Reading defence held out for a victory that their second halfperformance deserved.Reading coach Mark Eastley praised his team’s second half and in particular,the way they kept to their game plan and the discipline they showed once theinitial Derby day emotion had dissipated.Reading deserved their narrow win for the sustained pressure they managed inthe second half. Abbey for their part, defended well throughout and madegood use of their opportunities in the Reading 22 with their driving line outlooking a potent weapon.Reading, with their new kit courtesy of sponsors Select Leasing, therefore wonthe new trophy given in memory of the late Tracey Rolfe who had played forboth clubs.Both teams now have a week off before Reading play at Bracknell II and Abbeyare at home to Bicester on 30 November.READINGTries: Rowe, Clift, MorganConversions: Bowers (3)TEAM: Jason Carr; Jake Clift, Alex Rowe, Jos Clarke, Luca Busciglio-Bland; SamBowers, Lewis Bowers; Steve King, Luke Palmer, Ryan Smith; Jamie McIntyre,Lewis Donnelly; Joe Price, Will Proctor-Searle (capt.), Greg Jackson.Replacements: Joe Dottson, George Coker, Harry Morgan.
Images by Paul King/All Sports Wokingham 16/11/2024 from Holme Park Sonning.
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