Crows Vs Reading III

Recap

After a prolonged pre-season due to the RFU’s nationwide response to the Summer drought, competitive rugby finally returned to the Nest and a decent sized crowd gathered to see the new look Crows in action.

There has been much change over the Summer with a new coaching team installed and a healthy influx of new players, leading to record numbers of player registrations and memberships paid, which will help to propel the clubs plans to grow and further enhance our offering over the coming seasons.

Firstly, the Coaches. After serving a lengthy sentence at Bracknell, Matt Turner returns as a Coach and has been welcomed back with open arms. In addition, taking on a player coach role, is centre, Alex Turner, who has applied his school teacher qualities and professional Northern-ness with great effectiveness so far, another fantastic addition.

While there are many new players yet to make their debuts, there were 8 pulling on the shirt for the first time in this season opener. In the pack, the gigantic Harry Lake will add further bulk to an already sizeable front row, long haired Somerset fireman Nick Collis, brings added steel to defence as well as strong ball carrying from flanker, former Northampton University student, Peter da Costa possesses a deceptive turn of pace and will be a threat in the line out and finally to complete the back row, is local boy George Castle, equally comfortable at number 8 or loosened prop, which will be a great asset to the club! In the backs, hard running Northumbrian, Josh Lowes started at 12 and is set to be a menace to defences all season. On the Bench, 3 further debutants featured in the form of flanker Sam Blackwell, South African winger Ryan Biscombe and scrum half Rory Matthew.

Onto the match. In unseasonably hot conditions for late September, the match started at a frantic pace before the Crows earned an early penalty, which fly half Holden, duly sent through the posts for a 3 nil lead. Further good territory followed but the Crows were repeatedly undone by their own ill-discipline in what would turn out to be a key feature of the match. Reading, having had 3 pre-season games, displayed superior game awareness with good discipline and marched up the field dispatching successive penalties to touch. The scores were soon level after a penalty was converted by the Reading 10. Whilst the Crows were clearly rusty and gave way too many penalties away, they did show exceptional fortitude in defence, repelling Reading’s attacks for almost 20 minutes before finally conceding a well taken try. Following the conversion, Crowthorne found themselves 3-10 down with half time approaching. In the following minutes, Crowthorne finally put several phases together and then following a well-executed line out, Lowes broke the line with a strong run, beating several defenders to dot down under the sticks. Holden converted to tie the scores at 10-10. There was still time for one more attack. From a scrum on half way, the Crows diminutive half back, Wareing, executed a trade mark break down the blind side and was unlucky not to score.

Early in the 2^nd half, a number of changes were made, as Skipper and new Father Turner’s back (and lungs) gave out, prompting Castle to move up to loose-head and local lothario, Sam Taff to enter the fray at 8. In the backs, Cape Town’s Biscombe came on for Josh Roberts, who successfully completed a return to action without injury, which was great to see. A knee injury soon forced Penn from the field, heralding the entrance of all action back row player, Louis Turner.

Whilst the defensive commitment of the first half was again evident, the Crows again found themselves starved of possession and gave away far too many penalties. Again, Reading capitalised on this, ultimately ending with a try from a driving maul for the Reading hooker. The conversion was missed but 2 successful penalties soon followed, with Crowthorne now 10-21 down.

All of the changes meant that Castle now found himself at hooker, his 3^rd position of the day, quite a way to spend your 24^th Birthday! Sam Taff then had to manfully fill in at loosehead. Despite the chaos, the Crows proceeded to have their best period at scrum time having admittedly been 2^nd best in almost every scrum so far to a well drilled Reading pack. This stability did help move the team gradually up the field. There were some close calls, with a foot just in touch after a clever cross field kick from a penalty, cancelling out what looked a certain try. By this stage Matthew was on at 9 and Blackwell on the flank. Also, James Horton came into the back row as his quest to move from full back to prop continues.

Eventually it was a moment of individual brilliance from Da Costa that got Crowthorne back into the game. Picking up from the back of a ruck, he set off on a wide arching run and gassed the Reading outside backs to go over in the corner. An outstanding conversion from Holden closed the gap to just 4 points with less than 10 to go. However, indiscipline was once again our undoing and yet another penalty in front of the posts, allowed Reading to stretch the gap to 7. There was still time for one more attack, with Biscombe tearing down the wing gaining huge territory, new 9, Matthew, found veteran 2^nd row Stock, back from 3 years in the childcare trenches, who carried into contact before the ball was recycled and taken further up field by moustachioed centre Ellis and then Da Costa. Unfortunately the ball ended up back with Reading, who were awarded a pressure relieving penalty and closed out the game.

Congratulations to Reading, who deserved the win on the day and the Crows will learn a lot from that first run out. There were some real bright spots, notably defence and the backs looked dangerous when they did have the ball. The new back row players were all outstanding in defence and showed power in attack. Thoughts now turn to next week, when we make the short trip to Sonning based Berkshire Shire Hall.

As always, thanks to all of the volunteers who make match days possible and of course to the supporters who cheered us on throughout. Up the Crows!