Bracknell kicked off but their aspirations took an immediate hit as they relinquished possession within mere seconds. Reading Abbey seized the moment, striking early with a swift try and a successful conversion.
Reading Abbey applied considerable pressure in the first scrum, and forced a substitution for Bracknell, with Molly Cu replacing the injured Rachel and the teams moving to uncontested scrums for the remainder of the game. Despite this, Bracknell found themselves deep within Reading Abbey's territory after a scrum reset. Unfortunately, a knock-on resulted in a Reading Abbey scrum, leading to their second try. Bracknell's stout defence and determined tackles did succeed in slowing Reading Abbey's advance, but the score stretched to 12-0.
A glimmer of hope appeared for Bracknell, with a brighter spell of play on the horizon. Macy and Katy combined effectively, setting the stage for Amelia to score the first of her two tries. The tricky wind and angle made Molly Cann's conversion attempt a daunting task, but her effort narrowly missed, leaving the score at 12-5.
Maddy took a hit and left the pitch for a Head Injury Assessment (HIA), making way for Isla. Bracknell's valiant defending forced Reading Abbey to switch their play from side to side, but the opposition eventually found an opening, scoring their third try and pushing the score to 17-5.
The game's momentum then swung back in Bracknell's favour. Emma and Eva both made determined attempts, coming agonizingly close to scoring. Bracknell did, however, secure their second try when Molly delivered a pinpoint pass to Eva, who touched down in the corner. Remarkably, this mirrored a previous moment when Eva found herself in a similar position, only to be pushed into touch at the very last instant. The score at halftime stood at 17-10, promising an intriguing second half.
Bracknell commenced the second half with renewed confidence, enjoying early possession. Eva and Lily orchestrated runs deep into Reading Abbey's half, forcing their opponents into errors. Molly Cann's precision penalty kick deep into the Reading Abbey half brought Bracknell tantalizingly close to the Reading Abbey try line. Macy and Penny executed a flawless lineout, hoisting Elizabeth high into the air to secure possession. Regrettably, the ball was relinquished in the ensuing play.
This sparked a scrappy period where neither team could maintain possession for extended periods, preventing the stringing together of more than a few phases of play. Following gallant defending by Bracknell, which included some heroic tackles by Amelia, Katy, and Macy, Reading Abbey managed to break through and score their fourth try, extending their lead to 22-10.
Bracknell conceded another try shortly after the restart, pushing the score to 27-10, midway through the second half. However, Bracknell exhibited unyielding resolve, ultimately securing two more tries and a valuable try bonus point.
Bracknell's third try materialized following an incisive run by Amelia, breaching Reading Abbey's defences. Molly Cann converted the try, narrowing the score to 27-17. Bracknell’s bonus point try was achieved through a Sexton-esque tap and go by Molly Cann, who placed the ball beneath the posts for an effortless conversion, making the final score 34-24. Shortly before Bracknell’s fourth, Reading Abbey's inside centre had completed her hattrick.
This was a hard-fought battle between two determined teams, resulting in a shared tally of ten tries. Bracknell showcased growth and resilience throughout the game, refusing to be intimidated by their older, more experienced opponents. The match featured exhilarating moments with ball in hand, powerful runs, and notable accomplishments in competing for ball in lineouts. Impressively, Bracknell dominated in the lineouts, securing all their own and even snatching one of Reading Abbey's. All in all, it was a commendable performance away from Lily Hill Park, offering a solid foundation to build upon as the season unfolds.
Squad:
Imogen , Molly C, Elizabeth , Molly Ca, Emma , Róisín , Lily , Eva , Penny , Macy , Elle , Zara Paterson, Isla , Katy , Rachel , Amelia

Match report - John Irwin