Reading Rams RFC 3rd XV vs Grove RFC 1st XV

Reading Rams RFC 3rd XV Vs Grove RFC 1st XV - Match Day Report

Counties 1 Tribute Southern North League Match
Date: 30th March 2024
Kick Off: 14:00
Venue: Reading Rams RFC, Old Bath Road Sonning, Reading, RG4 6TQ

*Starting Squad*
1. Tom Fearn
2. ⁠Luke Mathews
3. ⁠Joe Cooper
4. ⁠Elliot Martin
5. ⁠Sam Cooper
6. ⁠Lawrence Birkhead
7. ⁠Alex Harris
8. ⁠Mark Roberts (C)
9. ⁠Ollie Nicholl (VC)
10. ⁠Matt Callaway
11. ⁠Will Nichol
12. ⁠Dan Coombs
13. ⁠Dylan Reeve
14. ⁠Sam Christensen
15. ⁠Ali McCarthy

*Replacements*
16. ⁠Martyn Walsh
17. ⁠James Monks
18. ⁠Ben Nicholl

1st Half Summary

2 Mins - From the base of the Rams scrum the player carries in isolated and Matt Callaway gets over the ball to win the pen. Ollie Nicholl kicks for touch to put Grove up into the Rams 22. Score: 0-0

8 Mins - Grove awarded a penalty for Rams being off their feet at the ruck 10 yards from their own try line under Grove pressure. Grove dominate and drive the scrum over the line and Mark Roberts at the base puts it down to score. Ollie Nicholl conversion good. Score: 0-7

9 Mins - From a loose ball on the halfway, Rams collect and run through to score. Conversion attempt good. Score: 7-7

12 Mins - From the Grove kick off, Will Nichol chases well to collect amongst the Rams players and runs through before being brought down bringing Grove up to 10 yards out. Score: 7-7

14 Mins - From a Grove scrum 5 yards out, we are just short after a few of the following phases. Ollie Nicholl pops the ball to Mark Roberts from the back of the ruck, who under contact drives over to score. Ollie Nicholl conversion good. Score: 7-14

20 Mins - On the Grove 22, Matt Callaway puts in a big hit on the Rams player, followed up by Mark Roberts getting over the ball to win the penalty for Rams holding on. Ollie Nicholl kicks to touch to put Grove up into Rams half. Score: 7-14

29 Mins - Rams penalised for playing the 9 on their own 22. Grove opt to kick at the posts. Ollie Nicholl penalty attempt good to keep the score board ticking over. Score: 7-17

33 Mins - Ram penalised for their back chat to the referee, penalty awarded to Grove. Grove opt to kick long to touch. From the lineout the ball is recycled and in the resulting phase Matt Callaway throws a flat pass to Luke Mathews at pace on a good line to go in and score. Ollie Nicholl conversion good. Score: 7-24

HT Score: Reading Rams RFC 3rd XV 7-24 Grove RFC 1st XV

2nd Half Summary

42 Mins - Rams penalised for being off their feet at the ruck. Rams have a player sent to the bin for their reaction to the decision. Grove opt to kick for touch. Ollie Nicholl kicks long putting Grove inside Rams 22. Score: 7-24

45 Mins - From broken play in the mid field, Rams move the ball wide and run round the outside of the Grove defensive line to score under the posts. Conversion attempt good. Score: 14-24

53 Mins - James Monks runs through the Rams defensive line at pace and offloads to Matt Callaway to run in the distance and score. Ollie Nicholl conversion good. Score: 14-31

61 Mins - From a Grove scrum deep inside the Rams half, Mark Roberts picks from the base and offloads to Ollie Nicholl out the back of the hand. Ollie Nicholl steps through the Rams defensive back line, being tackled just before the line and with a long arm reaches out to score. Ollie Nicholl conversion attempt from out wide is good. Score: 14-38

64 Mins - From the Rams kick off, Mark Roberts collects and runs through the Rams defensive line at pace and offloads to Ollie Nicholl who is on his shoulder. He then steps through the open gap, chips and collects over the full back, scoring under the posts. Ollie Nicholl conversion attempt good. Score: 14-45

73 Mins - Ben Nicholl steals the ball from a Rams pass and with the numbers offloads to Aly McCarthy to run half the pitch to score. Aly McCarthy narrowly missed the conversion attempt left. Score: 14-50

76 Mins - Rams given a free kick from the scrum for an early engagement from Grove. Rams take a quick tap and go catching the defensive line out and running through to score. Conversion attempt good. Score: 21-50

79 Mins - On the halfway, Grove dominate the scrum and win the penalty. Score: 21-50

80 Mins - Rams penalised for being off their feet at the ruck, Grove opt for a kick at the posts. James Monks penalty attempt good. Score: 21-53

FT Score: Reading Rams RFC 3rd XV 21-53 Grove RFC 1st XV

Tries: Mark Roberts x2, Luke Mathews, Matt Callaway, Ollie Nicholl x2, Aly McCarthy
Conv: Ollie Nicholl x6
Pens: Ollie Nicholl, James Monks

Quarters
20: 7-14
HT: 7-24
60: 14-31
FT: 21-53

Opponents:
Tries: 3
Conv: 3
Pens: 0

League Position: 6th

MoM: Mark Roberts - 8