The odyssey consultant sponsored Bandits were back in merit table action versus old rivals Readingensians with the as per usual this season massive squad traveling with an unheard of 25, the hosts with plenty themselves graciously agreed to no limit holdem rugby. This lead to games for everyone but the lack of continuity cost the bandits in a game where they never really got going.

The match started brightly for the visitors with young flankers Lewis Grassick & Connor Dyment dominating the contact area and getting good quality ball for the backs. Gareth Redding showing great pace to follow up his own chip ahead for a touch down.

This spurred Readingensians into life and they attacked but the defence held firm in open play. The cracks did start to appear in the set piece normally a strength of the Bandits but with their 2 regular tight heads missing the scrum was always going to be tough. More disappointingly the lineout misfired badly, with a mixture of not straights and dropped balls, so even though Fly Half Dave Pickering played a good tactical kicking game it came to nothing as the forwards couldn’t retain possession.

Gradually the home sides came into the game and poor tackling saw their prop run through for a score to bring it level 5-5.

Ominously with their forwards getting the edge Readingensians had the better of the latter exchanges of the half but some great tackling lead by Lewis grassick kept them at bay.

The 1st score would be crucial and straight from the kick off Tadley would have hoped for a chance with about as blatant a penalty for off side as it gets but it wasn’t to be and when they were ungraciously shoved off the ball that did rub the salt in. Tadley created a couple of chances, James Moffat going close but as the changes started to come regularly the team lost what continuity it had and Readingensians began to take control. A kicked penalty stretched the lead and in the dying minutes their replacement centre went over to rap up the win.

Some real positives came out of this game, Tadley fielded four 18 yr olds and a 20 yr old and they were the pick of the players which bodes well for the club and this is always a tough fixture and the injuries to the frontrow took a heavy toll but if Tadley aren’t to let a great start to the merit table slip that will need to get more ruthless when they are in charge on the pitch and also identify their strongest team.

Bandit of the match Lewis Grassick

The Bandits- Redding, Wilkins, Williams, Harvey, L Dyment, Copland, Barnes, Moffat, Pickering, Shields, Thatcher, Jack- that’s just the backs!!!
S Edney, G Edney, Pike, Boshier, Allan, Kent, Gibbins, C Dyment, Churchill, Grassick Mark, Barfoot, Saich – I think that’s everyone.