The pump technology sponsoredTadley travelled to their fellow ‘just outside’ Berkshire neighbours hoping for a first away victory of the season. In the fixture earlier this season Tadley fought back from a big first half deficit only to lose to a last minute Abbey drop goal.

The Pump Technology sponsored outfit named one change form the previous game with Andy Swaddling coming in for his first start in the Black and Amber of Tadley.

On a thoroughly miserable winters day this game was clearly going to be won or lost in the forwards with both sets of backs seeing little ball over the 80 minutes play. Abbey adapted to the conditions quickly and used their powerful larger pack to dominate possession and territory. With the wind on their backs they built a 17-0 lead in the first 30 minutes. Abbey took their chances well and showed good finishing ability in their backs to compliment the power in the forwards. In the early encounters Tadley were plagued by handling errors and turnovers which meant that they offered little in response. Towards the end of the second half, Tadley managed to turn the tide but good ball carrying from flanker Dave Seal and prop Swaddling were not turned into scoring opportunities. Just before half-time, Tadley came within inches of scoring when they launched a multi-phased attack, but the Abbey defence held firm until they were saved by half time whistle.

Tadley, now on the front foot after the strong period before half time, started brightly in the second half and after an excellent break from skipper Bailey and good interplay from his Vice Captain; Lowe. Quick ball was feed to their try scoring machine Dampies who notched yet another try for his increasingly impressive season tally. Abbey reacted to this and soon after fullback Chris Dennison had been sin binned they quickly responded with another try to take their lead to 24-7.

Tadley showed their characteristic resilience and came back very strongly. The fresh legs of Grierson and player-coach Vatcher were introduced. This added impetuous resulted in improved ball from the scrummage and line out. Tadley started to build pressure and were rewarded with the other player-coach Craig Raymond crashing over from a set move off the base of the scrum. Tadley continued their efforts and looked the stronger team in the closing stages but with the condition of the pitch deteriorating and Abbey's defence looking solid, the clock started to run down.

This however was not before one last attack at the Abbey try line, with the forwards at last imposing themselves on the opposition it was left to Bailey to dart over for the final play of the game and give his team a respectable score line. Tadley remain 4 points clear of the relegation zone with other results going their way but to achieve security Tadley must start turning respectable score lines into wins.

Pump Technology Man of the Match - Thomas Bailey

Tadley :-Swaddling (Grierson 65 minutes), Choules, Lowe, Murray, Harris, Nicholson, Seal, Summers(Vatcher 65 mins), Bailey(C) Raymond (T.Smith70 mins), Craig, Pike, E Smith, Dampies, Dennison .