The U15's ended their league campaign in fine style.

The omens looked good for the home side when shortly after the kick off, having gathered clean ball and tried to spin it out wide the Abbey winger spilt the ball forward. His opposite number MacDevitt reacted swiftly and dancing round the full back broke to score from his 10 meter line. To show this was no fluke several minutes later he bagged his second. A classic wingers try, he collected the ball on the half way line and danced inside then outside despairing tackles working hard up against the touch line to score.

The second try seemed to spark Abbey into action and from the restart they worked their way up and into the home sides 22 before blasting over from short range to score. They followed this moments later with a second to draw the scores level at 10 - 10.

By now the home scrum had well and truly bedded in. The front row of Weir, Jones and Wareham proved a handful all afternoon. Locks George and Cruickshank also had very solid games and the scrum seldom gave ground on either put in. George in particular showed his effectiveness with ball in hand. He combined well with captain Hunt to snuff out the big Abbey No 8 on numerous occasions.

MacDevitt scored his third of the game when once again he showed how dangerous he can be in open play when having received the ball just inside his own half he broke through several poor tackles before out gassing the away defence to score under the posts. Oliver stepped up to convert.

From the restart George collected and set the ball and the backs mounted several attacks at the end of which Richardson, up from full back, was unlucky not to score in the corner. Abbey repelled the first attack to clear but only 15 metres out. From this attacking lineout Hunt called a short line out and it was pleasing to see a training ground move bear fruit as he plunged over to score. Richardson strolled up and added the extras.

Sadly Hunt left the fray when he took a heavy knock to the head. Dalton stepped into the second row and George moved to number 8. Weir took the captains arm band.

The biggest threat that Abbey possessed was their big No 8 and it was great to see the home side thinking on their feet when to defend an attacking scrum, scrum half Lee packed down at No 8 and George stepped out to scrum half.

Two minutes from time and following several phases of attacking play by Abbey in the home sides 22, MacDevitt found himself helping in the rearguard action. Webb and Holt worked had to get their hands on the ball before it eventually popped into MacDevitts hands. 5 metres from his own try line he danced through two attackers before commencing a mazy run turning the opposition defence inside out and testing the referees fitness levels by sprinting the length of the pitch to score under the posts. Once again Richardson confidently added the conversion.

Half time 31 - 10.

Ref, parents, coaches and players all took a breather and took on water. "More of the same" was the order of the day.

Rejuvenated by the break Abbey scored first to close the gap, albeit briefly. Sadly it was not their day on the kicking front and a conversion that Weir's granny would probably have back healed over was missed.

Lee, formerly of Reading Abbey, showed how things have moved on since his move as he linked well with Leicester at No 10. With the fast feet and hands of Oliver and Hughes outside we were finally seeing quick ball reaching wingers hands. Oliver also showed that rugby is often a question of confidence as he put in a string of good low tackles.

With Leicester marshalling his back line well and pushing up at every opportunity the home sides defensive endeavours were rewarded when he charged down his opposite numbers kick from the back of a scrum and reacted quickly to collect the ball and scamper over and score. Richardson once again did the honours.

Tsang was unlucky not to score when he was adjudged to have received a marginally forward pass from Oliver as he cut a great angle and appeared to be clean through. MacDevitt completed a fine personal performance by scoring his fifth of the morning. This time Oliver converted.

The final score of the match went to Abbey, just reward for keeping their heads up and sticking to the task.

Result 45 - 20.

An entertaining match played in a great spirit. Thanks to all the supporters. Well done to MacDevitt and George who took the men of the match award.

Bernie Leicester