READING Abbey sealed a second Southern Counties North win in a row with a superb 30-20 victory at Marlow.

The visitors started brightly as clever territorial kicking by fly half Callum Wylie, capitalised on by the ever-present winger Gavin Dampies, forced Marlow into touch deep in their own half.

Moments later, the home side were penalised for dangerous play and full back Tom Waterhouse coolly kicked the first points of the day, nudging Abbey into a 3-0 lead.

Marlow responded with a vengeance, however, and took the lead after some questionable Abbey tackling allowed a converted try, and an interception allowed the hosts to move 12-3 in front.

The second quarter saw a flurry of penalties awarded against Marlow with the back three using them to great advantage through clever kicking and chasing once again through Waterhouse and Dampies.

Steve Drake also sent some good balls up, testing the Marlow defence which paid off when the hosts infringed at the scrum in front of the posts, and Waterhouse quickly took the points for his side.

Following the restart, the Abbey pack started to create some solid phases of play with strong runs from locks Sam Hallett and Warren Milne.

However, Marlow bit back, taking the points after Abbey were penalised at the ruck.

Skipper Michael Beckly was the next Abbey casualty after being tackled without the ball, bringing Ed House came off the bench to deliver another promising performance.

Waterhouse slotted another two penalties before the break to make it 15-12, following a fine box-kicking display by scrum half Will Bevan which led to Marlow infringements around the contact area.

Abbey started the second half brightly with promising moves from both the forwards and backs, linked by the skilful flanker Matt Gingell and ever-present Bevan.

The visitors made good ground up the pitch, but a failure to find touch from kicks proved costly when Marlow took advantage of a skewed Abbey defence and ran in a third try, which was not converted.

Abbey responded with a penalty struck by Waterhouse and his spectacular grubber was then pounced on by Dampies as he crossed under the posts. Waterhouse converted, and Abbey were ahead once again, 22-20.

The visitors then started to enjoy their best passages of play, with the defence forcing more Marlow errors.

They were team was further lifted by the return of Beckly to the field of play, substituting on for workhorse Gingell.

The back three came into their own, releasing Baptista on a strong run where he was unluckily held up on the line. The ensuing scrum saw yet another dip in Marlow discipline, and Waterhouse extended his team’s lead with another kick at the posts.

By this point the Abbey bench had been emptied and props Tim Brain and Paul Emery were causing a number of problems for their tiring opposition.

A solid platform from the forwards allowed the backs to release Dampies yet again, who showcased outstanding individual pace and skill to step three Marlow players following exemplary unselfish play by Luke Burns – making his 100th appearance – and crossing the whitewash in the corner.

Waterhouse’s conversion attempt drifted wide, but the game was won.

Abbey have a rest week this weekend before aiming to secure a hat-trick of wins at home to Wallingford on Saturday, October 10.