NICHOLAS Carvey dazzled for Marlow as they condemned Reading Abbey to a heavy 43-8 defeat in Southern Counties North.

The hosts racked up two late tries to add gloss to the score line, following an entertaining and competitive match.

Abbey took the lead in the with an early penalty through Olly Walton who then missed the chance to add another three points to extend their lead.

But the visitors kept up their strong start with some good attacking play from Mike Beckly and Chris Shaw.

However, Abbey were unable to capitalise and were punished for losing possession when Charlie Cotton grounded a try after a slick Marlow counter.

From there, Abbey were unable to get back into the game, with Marlow adding a penalty from Jamie Maddern, after he had missed one moments earlier.

Abbey rallied with some promising play, but as they were beginning to put some pressure on Marlow, Ben Mitchell was shown a yellow card, forcing Abbey to play the next 10 minutes with 14 men.

Marlow kicked for touch and scored another try from the subsequent penalty, converted by Maddern, putting the hosts 17-3 ahead at the break.

Abbey faced a huge task in the second half, but showed some promising signs by attacking straight from the restart with good play from Beckley, Adam Postlethwaite and George House.

However, once again they were punished on the break by slick Marlow, who extended their lead with a try from Stuart McKay. Maddern brilliantly kicked his third conversion for a 24-3 lead.

Things continued to get worse for Abbey, with Marlow adding a fourth try through Dan Hostetler, though Maddern was unable to convert this time.

For the remainder of the game, Abbey competed well and should have scored through Postlethwaite, who was held up on the line.

Finally, Abbey got some reward for their efforts and with a well-deserved try through Alex Langford-Pollard, though Walton hit the post with his conversion.

The final minutes belonged to Marlow, with Carvey very much the catalyst as two further tries were scored, both converted by replacement Matt Labron.

This was a brave effort by Abbey against a team which, even at this early stage of the season, look likely promotion contenders.

Abbey’s players will now be looking forward eagerly to the derby game with Reading at the end of September.

Marlow: Carvey, Bai, Cotton, Noble (Labron, Page), McKay, Maddern (Soames), Soames (Labron , Potts, Hostetler (Silvester), Clarke, Smith, Reynolds (Burbidge), Roberts, Page (Reynolds), Spur.

Abbey: Greenaway, Langford-Pollard (Canham), Mitchell, Walton, Canham (Pawlett ), Love, Bevan, Charlton, (Collier), Brown, Postlethwaite, Knights (Shaw), Shaw (Sutherland), Sutherland (House), House, Beckly.