Sat 22 Feb 2025
Shire Hall 15 Reading Abbey II 46
When the team was announced, Shire Hall were due to field the most potent back line they could but with 10 unavailable or injured forwards, the pack looked strange. Rhys Stewart, Jamie Pedder and Jack Kane, normally backs , were drafted in. It didn’t help matters when two key players dropped out on the day. The Reading Abbey side bore no resemblance to the side that turned out earlier in the season, so Shire knew this was going to be a tough day. However, it was Shire who started better. After only 4 minutes, Ashton Field ran a tremendous line to carve through the Reading Abbey defence only to be denied by a fantastic tackle preventing the ball from being grounded. Shire continued to press hard and after 10 minutes, a brilliant change of direction by Luke Jellicoe saw him go over. Rhys Stewart could not add the extra points but at this stage Shire had control and there were some excellent runs by Ollie Homan-Green, Luke Barefoot and Jamie Pedder. But the game would turn when Shire lost first Laurie Moss and then Jack Kane due to injuries. A yellow card was rightly shown to young Elliott for not releasing and soon after Reading Abbey went over for their first try to level the scores. On the half hour Rhys Stewart put Shire back in lead with a well struck penalty. But Reading Abbey upped the tempo to score two quick tries just before half time to take a 9 point lead.
Half Time Score: Shire Hall 8 Reading Abbey II 17
With such a disjointed pack, Shire were finding it difficult to secure first phase ball from set pieces and mistakes were bound to occur although Rhys Stewart did a fine job as main jumper in the lineout. A second yellow card was shown to Jamie Pedder this time for deliberately preventing a quick tap penalty and whilst he was off the field, Reading Abbey added three more tries to take a commanding lead. Shire were their own worst enemy due to fumbled passes and ineffective tackling. At times it was like watching a schoolboy team with the number of errors being made. Clearing kicks did not make touch giving Reading Abbey easy possession. A superb covering tackle by Jonny Parry denied a further score but it was only a brief respite as two further tries were added. However, in true Shire Hall spirit, Ashton Field broke through in the last play of the game to score his 8th try of the season to which Rhys Stewart added the extra points.
A very disappointing day for Shire but with a weakened pack, this was always going to be difficult. Surprisingly this was Reading Abbey’s first win since October, but their side was stronger than expected. Up next week is a visit to Phoenix who we beat earlier in the season. Hopefully Shire’s injured and unavailable players from this week will be taking the field.
Final Score: Shire Hall 15 Reading Abbey II 46
Tries: Luke Jellicoe, Ashton Field
Conversion: Rhys Stewart
Penalty Goal: Rhys Stewart
MOTM: Ollie Homan-Green – led from the front in true captain’s style
DOTD: Jamie Pedder & Elliott – yellow cards
