A TRY apiece for full back Gavin Dampies and scrum half Will Bevan secured a 15-7 win which leapfrogs Reading Abbey above Grove to fifth place in South West One East.

Grove came out of the blocks the quicker of the two sides and were soon pressing for an early try.

They later missed an eminently kickable penalty, and having been let off the hook, Abbey were stung to reply with their own pressure, their mobile pack forcing the pace with Chris Shaw and Will Woodward prominent.

Full back Dampies found space on the right but was hauled down short of the line, but his supporting back row picked the ball, saw Dampies repositioned on the narrow side and put him over for the first try, too far out for outside half Luke Burns to add the extras.

Ten minutes later Burns made amends with a penalty goal to move Abbey 8-0 up.

From the re-start Grove took possession and with a clever kick to touch, they were in a threatening position.

The line-out led to a scrum, Grove having the put in. With a stable set-piece the away side made the most of the threatening position to move the ball to the right, where the centres took contact and recycled the ball allowing their wing to touch down for a converted score.

Abbey started the second half 8-7 to the good, and with both sides equally matched in the set piece, the difference was the hosts’ pack in the loose, and the team’s defensive organisation.

Although Grove played their part and worked hard, they rarely threatened the Abbey line. With their few penalties they opted to go for touch followed by the drive for the try hoping for the losing bonus point or better. All came to nought on Abbey’s solid defence.

With the home side looking ever stronger, it was scrum half Bevan who finished off sustained pressure by nipping over for a short yardage try. Burns had no problems putting over the conversion.

Thereafter, Abbey were unable to add to the scoreboard, while Grove failed to find a way through stout defence.

Reading Abbey will encounter a major test when they travel to Braywick Park to face Maidenhead this Saturday, a venue where they have never won a league match.