Henley 3's 67-0 Aldermaston

By David Lewis

After a six week break due to the festive period and frozen pitches since the start of the year, the Henley 3’s were back in action for the beginning of what will be six games in a row.  Starting as league leaders, with Aldermaston trailing at the other end, the match looked promising for the home team, especially as the visitors arrived without available substitutes.

With Henley kicking off, the Aldermaston forwards started strong, with some confident moves down the centre of the pitch towards the Henley line, but after a slightly shaky start it wasn’t long before centres, Josh Beech and Adam Porter were in action, with Porter feeding to Beech for Henley’s first score, with an unconverted kick.  It was a promising start for Henley at 5-0.

Aldermaston held their defence well, but they could not contain the Henley backs running wide each time, which gave Nick Dudding on the wing his opportunity to claim the next score with fly-half, Brad Fox, converting his first points.  It was then scrum-half, Tom Longley’s turn, with Brad Fox converting, taking the score to 19-0.

Adam Porter in the centre, with Fox, took the next points and then Beech again followed by wing, Jack Davies, taking the half-time score to 36-0.

The second half began with Adam Porter, again with a pass from Beech, and Fox’s kick extending the lead to 43 – 0.  And then, within minutes, Adam Porter taking the next points off Beech, followed again by this dominant duo of Beech, taking more points off Porter.  Aldermaston simply could not find a way to contain the two Henley centres.

Henley’s forwards were not to be left out of the scoring, and it took the experienced tight head prop, Adam Wood, to show the Henley backs that they could also contribute to the score line.  Wood was joined promptly by a break from hooker, Hugo Matthews, adding to the forwards’ efforts.  Both tries were converted by Fox, bringing the score to 62-0.

The final score went to Tom Scott-Linden making a very promising debut for the team, as the referee called a halt to the game after the allowed 60 minutes.  Aldermaston had conceded the match at 67-0.  Another fine and fluid display by Henley, who remain at the top of their league with 2 points clear of their nearest rivals, Bracknell, but with 3 games in hand.