READING Abbey produced a superb team performance to beat Aylesbury 24-14 in the top-of-the-table Southern Counties North encounter.

On a blustery day, Abbey nearly took the lead early on as Tom Waterhouse’s kick was chased down by centre Luke Burns, but he was unable to ground the ball over the line.

However, the visitors did take a third-minute lead when Waterhouse landed a fine penalty from close to the left touchline.

Soon after this Aylesbury showed the power of their pack, pushing Abbey back from their own 10-metre line beyond halfway.

After shipping the ball right, skipper Adam Moore crossed for a try close to the posts, centre James Woodfall converting.

In a see-saw start, the visitors regained the lead with a brilliant try in the ninth minute when, from their first scrum of the afternoon, Waterhouse and Burns worked the ball quickly to the left where Dampies had sufficient room and pace to dash clear to score. He ran round to touch down near the posts, and Waterhouse added the conversion.

The fly half then missed with a penalty attempt before successfully kicking another opportunity, giving his side a 13-7 lead on 25 minutes.

Abbey gradually improved at the scrum, although they came under pressure when they lost second row Warren Milne to the sin bin.

They survived this period, though, and extended their lead when Waterhouse – fresh from having medical attention for a facial injury – slotted his fourth kick of the afternoon. A missed penalty by the Abbey player on the stroke of half-time meant his side led 16-7 at the interval.

Aylesbury had the wind behind them in the second period, but a pair of crucial tackles by Dampies and Arron Ross held the home side at bay.

Abbey then moved further in front on 44 minutes, as Burns made good ground, scrum half Will Bevan sent the ball to the right, and wing Dylan Baptista scorched home from 40 metres for a stunning score.

Trailing 21-7, Aylesbury enjoyed the bulk of the possession and territory for a long period, but solid Abbey defence repelled the Buckinghamshire side until the 66th minute.

After the hosts’ replacement No.8 Cory Neighbour came close to touching down, Aylesbury moved the ball wide and centre Matt Dennis just squeezed over the line wide on the left.

A brilliant conversion from Woodfall cut the gap to 21-14.

The same player unleashed a massive boot to keep Abbey pinned back, but the visitors retained possession well – with Sam Hallett particularly prominent – and gradually worked their way upfield while winding down the clock.

Ross almost found a way through the home defence and right at the end of normal time Waterhouse missed a penalty.

However, his forwards followed up the kick and kept the ball in the home 22, and Abbey continued to deprive Aylesbury of possession during injury time.

In the seventh minute of stoppage time they were awarded another penalty, and this time Waterhouse was on target, depriving his opponents of even a losing bonus point.

Abbey now sit two points ahead of Beaconsfield at the top of the table, and will be hoping to extend that advantage when they travel to winless Thatcham this Saturday.

FORMER Abbey youngster Ben Loader returned to the club on Sunday to present his England Under 16 shirt to his boyhood side.

Loader played and trained at Rosehill from eight-years-old until last year, when he moved schools from Reading to Wellington College.

He was selected for England’s under 16s when they played Wales in Caerphilly in April, bagging a try in a 34-0 win.

Loader presented the shirt to Abbey’s 1st XV captain, Mike Beckly, saying: “I’m delighted to give Abbey my first shirt, because that’s where it all started.”

He is Abbey’s sixth young player to play at international level – five for England and one for Scotland.