CHINNOR Wildboys made a dream start to life in Level 7, scoring seven tries to beat Reading Abbey away from home.

Having been promoted two levels after being crowned champions of BB&O Division 1 three years in a row, there was an element of heading into the unknown.

But our Wildboys did what they do best – stay wild and brought their brand to Counties 1 Southern North.

It took just five minutes for the first score to arrive, with Toby Cooke finishing in the corner. It all started from a lineout on half-way, before the ball was spread through the backs for Toby to score an unconverted try out wide.

Abbey replied through a penalty, but we went onto lead 24-3 after 30 minutes.

A catch and drive from the 22 into the middle field led to our Wildboys’ second try, with the ball again spread wide through the backs and centre Sam Hicks crossed the whitewash – fly-half Harry Lowe adding the extras - to make it 12-3 after 15 minutes.

Another catch and drive provided the platform for try number three and this time we attacked down the blindside with hooker Eddie Church diving over. Harry again stepped up to add the extras and increase the advantage to 16 points.

Five minutes later and the four-try bonus point was in the bag. Chinnor stole an Abbey lineout and went on the attack, going through the phases into the opposition half and full-back Josh Smith touched down.

The hosts responded well and their pressure was rewarded with a try, before three more points from the tee cut our lead to 24-13 at half-time.

There was still work to do in the second period and our Wildboys certainly delivered.

Scrum-half Dan Coulon’s excellent break from half-way took us up to the 22 and an infringement led to a penalty. A tap-and-go kept the momentum going and crash ball by lock Sam Jones made it 29-13 after 45 minutes.

We were now on top, with the scoreline a fair reflection of the game. Eddie grabbed his second of the day, before Coulon finished it off in style with a fine show and go setting him on his way to score under the sticks. Hicks stepped up to add the extras and make it 41-13.

A memorable day for our Wildboys and our Club, and we now move on to the home fixture with Swindon College Old Boys this Saturday.

Wildboys: Smith, Cooke, Hicks, Nichols, McIntosh, Lowe, Coulon, Ludgate, Church, Boddy, S Jones, M Jones, Inman, Alexander, Gilbert.
Reps: Crockford, Mulholland, Cullen.