Wallingford has long been the Abingdon’s bogey team – at least at U13 level; the 58-0 defeat in the first round of the Cup this year still hurts. And after two lacklustre performances in recent weeks, today’s game was viewed with some trepidation by some of the Abingdon boys, especially those who only flew back from school ski trips last night. But with a cup semi-final next week, Wallingford chose to rest their county players and replace them with squad members. Pragmatic perhaps, but a mis-calculation that only served to fire Abingdon up for the game.
Abingdon kicked off the first of three periods, and immediately had Wallingford on the back foot. From a knock on in the Wallingford 22, good hands from the back of the scrum put Alex Royle over for an early try wide on the left. Shortly afterwards, some strong running from the forwards released the backs, the ball moving swiftly through the backs to Adam Grimsdale-Yates on the left wing. Adam couldn’t quite make the line, but Alex looped around to score in the corner. 10–0 up so early in the game, Abingdon were in complete control, and this was confirmed when Alex intercepted a looping Wallingford pass on the half way line and trotted under the posts, then converted for 17–0. What ball Wallingford were winning was being turned over to Abingdon through some strong tacking, and aggression. After Sasha Swannell won the ball in the Wallingford half, the ball moved quickly out to Adam Simcox at outside centre, who ran to the right then cut in left to wrong-foot the defence and score. The Abingdon boys had scented blood now and both forwards and backs were harrying the Wallingford boys at every turn, and when Adam won the ball, Will Pickford chose a good running line and went over on the right. Alex converted to give Abingdon a 27-0 lead at the end of the first period - and not a Wallingford attack to speak of.
Abingdon started the second period very sloppily. From the kick off, they knocked the ball on 4 successive times giving Wallingford an attacking platform they scarcely deserved. But Abingdon’s scrum was strong today, and when the ball came out on the Abingdon side James Ashton picked up and ran 90 yards to score under the Wallingford posts. A good conversion pushed the score to 34-0. Things got even worse for Wallingford when a poor clearing kick was collected by Alex, who again ran in from half way for 39-0, and soon after that Will, again running an excellent line, cut through the Wallingford defence for another try close to the posts, Alex converted for 46-0. The harrying of the first period was continuing in the second and great work by Sasha and Harry Gibson won ball which again flashed through the hands to Alex to score and then convert, 51-0. Rounding off the scoring in the period, Sasha put Alex clear on the right, he cut inside and passed to Will for him to go in under the posts. The conversion made it 58-0 at the end of the second.
In the final period Wallingford did manage to get hold of the ball at times, but not for long. By now Abingdon’s forwards were in complete control, and as Wallingford tired, the backs threatened to score every time they got the ball. James again scored under the posts after collecting a Wallingford fumble, and Alex scored again after a good run from Aaron, and from a penalty in the Wallingford 22, Sasha put Chris over for a try to make it 75-0. By now the lads were looking for an unprecedented century of points, and two tries came quickly from Sasha running through the Wallingford defenders to make it 87-0 with the conversion. Alex scored again to make it 92-0, then Max and Sasha put James in under the posts; Alex’s conversion made it 99-0. With one minute to go and one point to get, came the move of the match, the ball went through the hands of most of the forwards before flowing out along the line of backs, but Max Sutner couldn’t quite hold the final pass. From the ensuing scrum Wallingford kicked the ball out to end the game at 99-0.
What can one say after a match like that? Yes, Wallingford were not full strength, but beating any Wallingford team will give the Abingdon lads a big psychological boost. Abingdon played a great game. The forwards were dominant and the backs threatening, and as the game wore on they were learning that moving the ball quickly through hands – playing as a team not a collection of individuals – makes for a much better result. It wasn’t a perfect game- still some silly mistakes to work on, but so much better than the recent matches - well done to all the boys. Finally, well done to Alex, who played a dominant game today, which I think was appreciated by team-mates and parents alike. Well done to Wallingford, who kept playing to the final whistle, but I doubt they will field their reserves again!
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