Match Report by Andy Grant
The meet time target at Reading Abbey was adversely affected by a slow moving M40 with a ridiculous length of time spent staring at the pretty cottages of Sonning and a hole in the road. The small hole was beautifully cordoned off though but was creating 3 miles of traffic in both directions. Not ideal preparation for a Chiltern 2XV which had called up six 3XV players to complete their squad.
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With Chiltern near the top of the BBO1 league table and Reading Abbey near the bottom it was right from kick-off that A&C piled on the pressure. Abbey however preferred to concentrate on some friendly chat, was it communion wine in those water bottles?!
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Alex Bower kicked-off and after only 7 minutes it was Jason Kilbey, having recovered from a nasty wee shoulder injury, burrowing over for a try under the posts. Easily converted 0-7. Abbey missed a penalty before it was Kilbey again to cross the white line , this time with an impressive interception try. With a more challenging conversion it was a 0 – 12 lead after only 15 minutes. On 20 minutes Jason Kilbey couldn’t resist completing the first half hat trick and again easily breached the Abbey walls for a 0 – 17 lead.
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Just prior to half time and with the Abbey front row still chatting away it was a very professionally executed surge by Harry West to score a quality try and with a beautifully stroked conversion 0 – 24 was the half-time lead.
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With some spots of rain Abbey began to show a little fight, and some of their better players made some useful gains and a match was being made of it. But with continuing pressure from A&C another penalty was secured and kicked, 3 -24.
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Although encouraged and determined to fight back it was Gus Knott who grabbed the monk by the rope-cord making a quality break before striding out and sliding over the Abbey try line, 3 -29.
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Finishing off Chiltern's try tally was 2nd row Will Drewitt who emerged from the hard-working Chiltern pack to deliver a well-worked converted try 3 – 36.
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In darkness after one of the slowest, chattiest games seen this season, Abbey managed to score a try which they converted by candle light. 10 – 36 final score.
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A convincing win, Chiltern looking forward to the return match at Weedon Lane where the chat will no doubt continue as will hopefully the 2XV's habit of winning.
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Highlights
• Senior debut for 18 year old Theo Grant, continuing the Grant playing legacy at Chiltern
• 1st Half Hat-trick from Jason Kilbey returning from injury
• Alex Bower choosing the up and under penalty option which was knocked on and from the resulting scrum a try was scored. Great to see
• Luke Donnebaum almost scoring with his first touch as a second half sub
• 2 against the head in the scrum
• Huw Thomas unexpectedly appearing on the touchline to support
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The 2XV now have completed 5 wins in a row and next up is a trip to Witney who will be looking to get their league campaign back on track after a 60-0 defeat to league leaders Chinnor.