Beaconsfield II 47–47 Reading 1 XV

The 1s opened the season away at Beaconsfield and came home with three league points from a game that finished level at forty seven each. A young side with debutants across the pitch, a rock hard ground, and a finish that said a great deal about where this group is heading.

From the touchline the defence was the thing. Flat, on it, tough and low, and on that surface, for a first game of the season, outstanding.

Gareth Tully, Director of Rugby

"Winning positions ending up as a draw is not great, but the boys put a hell of a shift in. We had some injuries which didn't help us, but they fought to the end. To be honest with you, to come to a place like Beaconsfield and come away with points, especially the first game of the season, is fantastic. And what a score, 47-47. One for the rugby naturalists there. Not one for my heart."

"We played some really good stuff. We know what we need to work on for next week, and the boys will be ready to rock and roll."

On the rest of the weekend: "A massive weekend for the senior men. We got the walkover for the 2s, so they went up to Quins and played a friendly and got the win there. The 3s went to a tough Crowthorne team and got a 24-17 win."

Will Proctor-Searle, Captain

"Tough game. First game of the season, first away game, six debuts. Big for the boys with a young squad, and we showed a lot of promise for what the season is going to hold. We played good attacking rugby, spread the ball wide nicely and had great success with it."

"We stepped off the gas a few times and the mentality went a bit, but we adapted well, closed out the game and got three points. We wanted five, but three points is better than nothing."

"I wouldn't say the issue today was fitness. It was mentality when a few calls went against us, a few frustrations."

"Compared with last year, a game like today, we would have folded under pressure and lost it. With boys stepping up, Smithy coming back, leaders coming out of their shell, that is what really counts."

"Our youth players are great players and it is lovely to watch. It is a completely different standard of rugby, and it is a standard we need to bring into the season. I have full faith that we are going to do some great things, step off the mark and push forward for promotion."

Jay Henderson, Head Coach

"The first ten minutes we just didn't get out of the blocks, which seems to be a common thing from last season. We spoke a lot about mentality and what I expect from the group, and what we saw was a great reaction for the rest of the first half. We dominated them in a lot of areas, and when we played the rugby we are trying to play we scored some really strong tries. Really pleased with how we finished that half."

"We spoke at half time about keeping that and not assuming the game was over because we had played well for twenty minutes. The lads showed a little bit of naivety and a lack of experience, as is to be expected to some degree, and we switched off for fifteen minutes in the second half."

"But to come back into the game when we were under the cosh and score two really good tries, the intensity was there and the defence was there. Which sounds ironic when we conceded seven tries, but there were a lot of real positives."

"We finished with six debuts. We had three, if not four, eighteen year olds and a couple of nineteen year olds on the pitch. It is such a young, inexperienced group that days like that will be hugely beneficial to them and their development."

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"I am absolutely gutted not to win the game, especially from the position we were in. But they were a big physical team and they are used to winning. Very much looking forward to a good week's training and a big game at Oxford."

Injuries

Jamie McIntyre and Jacob Watkins both came off with a dislocated shoulder. Everyone at Holme Park wishes them a quick and full recovery.

Oxford next week at Holme Park!!