Radley College produced clinical finishing in the first half of their local Derby clash with Abingdon School, and resisted a comeback effort in the final quarter, to secure a 35-14 win, thus progressing to the 4th round of the Continental Tyres Schools U18 Cup, South West B Group.
Situated only 3 miles apart, albeit on opposite sides of the Oxfordshire/Berkshire County line, these two schools enjoy a close rivalry, with Radley having the upper hand at the 1st XV level in recent years, and the most recent Abingdon win in 2019. By a happy coincidence of the fixtures calendar, it was possible to play this Cup tie as part of the existing block fixture. The seemingly endless array of Radley pitches was thus filled with games and bathed in autumn sunshine. The Berkshire school came into the fixture with an unbeaten record from a high-quality fixture list. Radley, numbering several of their unbeaten Continental Tyres Schools U15 Cup Champions side from two seasons ago in their squad, had lost only to Cranleigh. This looked to be too close to call.
After a two-minute silence, Abingdon kicked off but were immediately penalised, giving Radley an early attacking opportunity. With possession secured at a line-out on the right and initially taken on by the forward pack, the ball was moved through the hands across the field, captain and inside centre Honey putting full back Blacker into space. However, the ball went forward, and Radley were penalised at the resulting scrum, allowing Abingdon to clear. Despite several exchanges of kicks, the home side maintained territorial advantage and capitalised on turnover ball, with No 8 Oliver carrying strongly before linking with Honey, who took play into the 22 before offloading to fly-half Renders, who scored on the right, Honey adding the conversion.
Honey did well to secure the restart and carry powerfully up to halfway, and an ensuing box kick saw Abingdon penalised. Set-piece ball was secured at the resulting line-out on the right, and a driving maul took play up to the 22 before second row Best broke away. Abingdon briefly recovered possession but were unable to relieve the pressure, giving Radley another attacking line-out on the right. Again, possession was secured by second row du Plessis, and the ball came to Oliver, who found space on the blind side. Although he was initially stopped, the forward pressure was maintained and Oliver completed the move, crashing over on the right with Honey again adding the extras.
The visitors finally got some possession in the Radley half, running back the clearance from the restart and second row Charlie T carrying strongly on the left. Although he was stopped, Abingdon regained possession at a scrum and, after retaining possession through several phases, were awarded a penalty in midfield, which was kicked to touch on the right. However, the line-out was lost, and a well-weighted box kick from scrum half Rugg was effectively chased. With possession secured, Radley moved the ball through the hands, first with Honey finding right wing Brooks and then switching play back to the left, Honey putting Sundavundra into space, and the left wing stepped past would-be tacklers before turning on the afterburners to cross under the posts, Honey converting.
Although more good work by Charlie T enabled Abingdon to regain possession at the restart, they were penalised in midfield, and a good touch was found on the left by outside centre Kennedy. With Best securing the set-piece ball on halfway, an excellent driving maul was established, which made inexorable progress deep into the 22. That was finally stopped, but the Referee awarded a penalty, kicked to the right corner. With the set piece again secured, open side flanker Carpigo threatened along the touchline, but possession was lost and Abingdon briefly relieved the pressure. With Godbold coming off the bench to take over at scrum half, the ball was moved quickly through the hands from the line-out. Hooker Carpigo carried strongly in midfield before the ball was released, and a long pass to the left stretched the defence, where flanker Weston forced his way over in the corner. Honey was again on target with the touchline conversion.
With half-time approaching and finding themselves four scores down, Abingdon worked hard to get onto the scoreboard, winning successive scrums in midfield and forcing a penalty on the left. A tap was taken, but good defence prevented progress into the 22. Finally, another penalty conceded by Radley gave Abingdon an attacking line-out on the left, and the Berkshire side had the opportunity to show that they too have an effective driving maul, which made good progress, but that was stopped short of the line, and the Referee blew for half-time.
Half-time Radley College 28-0 Abingdon School
There was little initial discernible change in momentum following the interval. The Abingdon back line at last began to find some space with outside centre Benedict R breaking through and linking with replacement wing Zack G, but a handling error gave possession back to Radley, and du Plessis stretched his legs to break through to the Abingdon 22. He was eventually stopped, and Abingdon regained possession at a scrum. However, a turnover was forced, and that ball was used clinically by Radley, with a long pass floated over on the left to Sundavundra, who eluded the cover tackle and squeezed in at the corner. Honey continued his flawless kicking display from the tee with another excellent touchline conversion.
Benedict R again showed his running skills, taking Radley’s clearance kick from the restart and stepping his way past would-be tacklers. More good handling by Abingdon took play into the Radley half, but the defence forced a penalty, enabling Radley to clear to halfway. However, they were themselves penalised and Abingdon capitalised, kicking to touch on the right. The set piece ball was moved through the hands to the 22 before Benedict R cut back to score by the posts, full back Ben B adding the conversion.
Having at last got on the scoreboard, Abingdon established good field position from the restart and won possession from successive scrums. Quick taps were taken from a free kick and then from a penalty, and good recycling took play up to the Radley 22. A long penalty advantage was being played, and Abingdon again took a tap, but a handling error gave possession back to Radley at a scrum, and they were able to clear to halfway. However, another penalty was conceded by Radley, and again Abingdon capitalised with an excellent kick from a narrow angle by fly-half Alex C, giving them an attacking lineout on the right. With the set-piece ball secured, a maul was set up, forcing the defence to concede another penalty. This time, the ensuing maul proved unstoppable, and Charlie T got the downward pressure to secure the score. Ben B again converting.
Zack G, switching to scrum half, ran out the restart, and Abingdon were awarded a scrum, but a free kick was conceded. With time running out, the game was now opening up as both sides sought to secure a final score. Abingdon again looked to run a penalty, but a handling error gave Radley an attacking scrum at which Abingdon were penalised. Initially, with the Referee indicating the final play, Radley took a quick tap and kicked the ball off the field, but the Referee decided it had not been taken through the mark and called play back. With time to reflect, Radley decided to go for a sixth try and kicked to the corner. The maul was duly established but was eventually legally stopped just short of the line, and the Referee blew for full time.
Few could have predicted such a one-sided scoreline based on previous form this term. Radley were relentless in the first half, showing great accuracy with their handling and offloading that translated into points. A flawless kicking display from the tee by their captain helped to keep the scoreboard moving. Abingdon stuck to their task and put Radley under pressure in the final quarter, though arguably helped by Radley going to their bench. They now host block fixtures against Eton and RGS Guildford before finishing their season at Bedford. Radley also face some tough block fixtures but will also host RGS High Wycombe, winners over Reading Blue Coat in a close game a couple of days earlier, in the final of the South West B Group of the Cup.
Full-time Radley College 35-14 Abingdon School
By Peter Crawshaw
Teams:
Radley College: Crean, Carpigo, Jordan-Willis, Best, du Plessis, Weston, Carpigo, Oliver, Rugg, Renders, Sundavadra, Honey (Capt), Kennedy, Brooks, Blacker
Replacements: Acloque, Fullalove, Godbold, Murphy, Jervis
Abingdon School: Will M, Ned H (Capt), Ned C, Charlie T, Henry C, Luca C-H, Joe B, Conor M, Seb P, Alex C, James M, Will H, Benedict R, George A, Ben B
Replacements: Maxwell R, George B, Elliot G, Edward D, Zack G
