Hungerford outdone by Tadley

TADLEY secured an 8-0 victory over Hungerford in the Tribute Berks, Bucks & Oxon Premier in a game that was hit with difficult conditions due to the rain.

Tadley got off to a good start with their winger twice jinking through from deep and on both occasions Matt Stevens tracked back and caught him with a last-gasp tackle just before the try line.

The pressure eventually told when, after a series of driving plays close to the Hungerford line, the Tadley back row crashed over for the only try of the game.

Stevens got a chance on his own 10m line and, after a searing break, passed to Henry Mills deep in the Tadley 22, but the ball was just knocked from his grasp when a try looked on the cards.

The second half saw a more open game with the rain a little lighter and both sides trying to bring their backs into the game.

Following the sin binning of a Tadley flanker, Hungerford managed to come back against the dominant Tadley pack.

After a series of forward thrusts, Toby Gale made good ground and slipped the ball to Harley Bloomfield, who was only stopped from opening Hungerford’s account by a fantastic tackle just short of the line.

The game was put beyond Hungerford when the Tadley No. 8 converted a penalty late on.

Hungerford Lions suffered a 38-0 defeat to Thatcham 2nd in Berks, Bucks and Oxon 3 South.

Thatcham were the stronger side from the start and seemed to cope better with the weather conditions.

Lions defended well, but could not stem the steady flow of Thatcham tries as they fell to defeat.