CROWTHORNE RFC continued their memorable BB&O Premier campaign with a hard-fought 18-8 success at Abingdon on Saturday, writes Richard Ashton.

The well-deserved victory was an eighth in 10 games for Crows, and a first against a top-four side.

With the pitch in surprisingly good condition following heavy rain throughout the week, it was the hosts who took a ninth-minute lead when Chris Stables banged over a penalty from the Crowthorne 10m line, taking his points tally beyond 150 for the season.

Crows hit back shortly after, however, with impressive scrum-half Tom Dawkes taking a ball off the top of a line-out – superbly marshalled by second row Will Barham throughout the contest – and sniping through from the Abingdon 22.

Although he was hauled down just short of the line, Crowthorne’s pack hammered away at the line and Sam Hitchings eventually crossed to give his side the lead.

Doug Charman’s kick missed to the left of the posts but the visitors were 5-3 to the good.

Abingdon regained the lead in the 24th minute with a well-worked backs play, with Stables giving an inside ball to wing Robert Tyreman who stormed through the defence to score in the left-hand corner.

The visitors were forced into a reshuffle when outside centre Rhys Carnie was forced off with a groin injury, meaning Dawkes switched to full back with Charman moving into the number 13 channel. James Jarvis came on at scrum half.

However, the impressive Crowthorne pack again gave their side the upper hand in the 32nd-minute when hooker Stuart Laye (pictured) barrelled over, although Charman struck the post with a straight-forward conversion attempt.

The visitors came under pressure towards the end of the half, and only a brilliant cover tackle by Charman denied Abingdon a score.

The resulting line-out on the Crows own five metre line was adjudged not straight but after Abingdon elected to take a scrum, the Crowthorne pack redeemed themselves by winning a penalty and ensuring they went into the break with a two-point lead.

Alex Stewart’s men moved further ahead with their third try of the afternoon eight minutes into the second half, with a fizzing pass by Charman and deft hands from Dawkes setting up James Huckle to go over in the corner.

Charman was again unable to add the extras and Crowthorne led 15-8.

Abingdon nearly found a way through with the same play they used to score their first try just four minutes later, but man-of-the-match Dawkes produced a superb tackle to haul down full back Liam Dahle.

The following 15 minutes saw both sides go hammer and tongs at one another – Crowthorne captain Sam Short was outstanding at inside centre, making good yards every time he touched the ball.

And it was Crows who decisively scored the next points, Charman finally finding his range from the tee with an impressive long-range kick which took his side more than a converted score clear.

Crowthorne dominated the next 10 minutes as they searched for a try bonus point, but a combination of errors and some gutsy Abingdon defence ensured the hosts’ try-line remained in tact.

However, the Oxfordshire side rarely looked like mounting a comeback and Crows held on for an excellent victory.

Fifth-placed Crowthorne do not have a game this coming Saturday, returning to action at home to Alchester on February 13.