READING Abbey Nuns were pushed all the way as they edged Newbury Ladies 24-20 to set up a Junior Cup final clash with Lewes, writes Fiona Tomas.

The South East West One champions remain on course to finish the season with double silverware, but their local rivals came within inches of ending the Nuns’ 18-match-winning streak in what was a tense encounter.

The opening quarter saw Abbey pin their rivals in their own half with a series of strategic kicks as scrum half Ellie Rice organised the forward lines.

Alice Denton found herself uncharacteristically bundled into touch but Abbey’s patience was rewarded when Abi Wall and Denton combined to feed centre Hayley Matthews who crossed the whitewash.

Abbey then consolidated their lead when Annette Tomas changed the direction of play after an intelligent pass from Rice, who had an exemplary game, and touched down under the posts.

But Newbury, buoyed by a penalty on the stroke of half-time, looked the brighter team after the break and tested Abbey’s defence.

Forwards Meghan Fowler and Hollie King provided some huge tackles but Newbury’s own front-row released their backs and crossed in the corner in a well-worked penalty move.

Abbey responded through a good scrum and Joey Fowler picked up the ball to release Tomas who raced through the centre to cross the line at 17-10.

The Nuns had to battle the last 15 minutes with 14 players after Tomas saw yellow after a high tackle. But Abbey regrouped and an excellent run from King released Denton who raced down the wing to score under the posts and converted her own try to make it 24-10.

Newbury then scored a penalty and grabbed a consolation try at the death, but it was not enough as Abbey ran out winners.

This was a truly tremendous display of rugby between the two top women’s teams in Berkshire, a testament to the growth of the game in the county, and it provided an excellent spectacle for the home and travelling support.

Abbey’s cup final will be played at Royal Wootton Bassett RFC on April 1.

  • READING Abbey men dropped into desperate South West One East relegation trouble after they lost 26-17 at Banbury, with a possible five-point penalty for playing an ineligible player earlier in the season potentially leaving them eight points from safety.

Wing Charlie Gingell opened the scoring with a try for Abbey, but a converted Cash Chilvers effort put the hosts in front before Patrick McSweeney’s score made it 12-7 to Abbey at the break.

A second Chilvers try levelled matters, only for Ben Mitchell to put the visitors 17-12 up.

However, two converted Dan Brady scores meant the points went to the Oxfordshire side.

Reading Abbey have a week off before hosting Chippenham in a vital clash on Saturday, March 25.