Riding high on the excellent performance last week A&C played host to a second Reading Team, Reading Abbey. With a number of absences for other commitments both clubs were slightly short of two full sides so three thirty minute matches were played.
Reading Abbey brought a much larger pack than A&C could field and a number of very able backs. But initially A&C played to a similar high standard and tempo to last week with Chris Grint outstanding at centre turning innumerable half-chances into tries with incisive running. Abbey struggled to keep pace as A&C kept the ball in hand and showed excellent inter-changes between forwards and backs, rarely allowing Abbey to form a balanced defensive line.
As the game wore on the initiative between the two sides ebbed and flowed. Whilst A&C played their best rugby in the first twenty minutes there were excellent individual and team performances throughout each period. Tom Ates demonstrated fantastic mobility as well as securing the scrum at tight head whilst Seb Porter’s defensive commitment, never missing a tackle on any of the powerful Abbey forwards, rightly earned him man of the match(es).
The end combined score of 79 – 44 to A&C reflected the overall performances of the two teams. But A&C need a bit more consistency in maintaining the high standards they have showed they can achieve.
Thanks to Mark McKenzie-Crooks for 90 minutes of excellent refereeing