Marlow produce another display full of enterprising, attacking rugby
Marlow 42, Reading Abbey 24 Marlow made it three bonus point wins in a row as they eased to a 42-24 home win over Reading Abbey on Saturday, producing another performance full of enterprising, attacking rugby.
Marlow have come into the new Counties 1 Tribute Southern North season looking a fitter, more cohesive unit than in previous campaigns and their three emphatic victories so far would appear to back that up.
Playing with a focus and intensity that's been missing in the past, Marlow got off to a perfect start thanks to the boot of new recruit Mike Abbott.
Dean Whiteley has been in fine form for the side this
season and, when he was held up close to the Abbey line, fullback Hugo Jafari picked up to dive over for the side’s first try. The conversion was added by Abbott to make it 10-0.
Abbey were then architects of their own downfall when a box kick fell into the hands of Jafari, and he began a succession of quick passes that resulted in Whiteley scoring his first try of the game. Abbott added the extras to make it 170.
The pressure remained unrelenting and when Marlow won a line-out close to the line, enabling Josh Richardson to sneak over on the blindside for a third score, and with Abbott adding another penalty the hosts led 25-0.
Reading refused to go down without a fight and grabbed a try back on the stroke of halftime, however, far from turning the tide, it simply galvanised Rory Greenslade
Jones’ men for the second half.
A kick and chase soon put the visitors under pressure once more and, although they hurriedly hacked the ball clear, Marlow regrouped and span the ball wide for Whiteley to continue his scoring streak to make it 30-7.
Abbey responded well, charging down a kick to pick up and run in their second try before overcoming a huge defensive effort from Marlow inside their own 22, to sneak over for a third try to make it 30-19 with the conversion.
Previous Marlow teams may have crumbled, but they maintained their composure to rebuild their lead once more, this time Jafari’s dancing feet taking him through the Abbey defence for his second of the game with Abbott adding the extras (37-19).
The visitors capitalised on another hurried clearance to score their fourth try of the game, but the final say went to the hosts and Paddy Montgomery cleverly read an overthrow from an Abbey lineout to muscle his way over the whitewash for his first try for the club.
Bruno Renucci claimed the man of the match honours afterwards, but Jafari and Whiteley’s double try scoring contributions also can't be overlooked.
This win takes them second in the table, behind Chinnor 3rds who've played a game more.