Both sides were hoping to build on some encouraging recent results with Abbey restricting league leaders Maidenhead who are Trowbridge’s opponents this Saturday to 24-5 score line in their last match and Trowbridge having victories over Salisbury and High Wycombe.

However the Green Lane side had previously won only once in 9 attempts away from home and this seemed to make the Rose Hill side favourites in some eyes.

The match began with both sides sizing up the opposition and Abbey had the better of the opening exchanges territorially.

They turned down an easy kick at goal at an early penalty and their attempt to break through the Trowbridge defence failed but not long after a penalty attempt from a similar position was kicked by scrum half Steve Drake.

Play stayed in the Trowbridge half but when they gained possession they tried to release their backs and made good progress.

Their first chance came when the ball was spun to right wing Bruce Tasker who beat his opposite number but as he was caught by Christoff Bart who was also very quick, the international sprinter stepped on the touch line and the opportunity had gone. Soon afterwards Chris McLeod created a chance with a break down the left wing.

He passed to wing Ashley Chalk who was clear but 10 yards out he was tap tackled and caught as he was getting up to go over the line.

Abbey then infringed just inside their own half and Lloyd Davis who had a good day with the boot amassing 16 points, kicked the long range attempt.

Both sides were making handing mistakes at this stage but Abbey moved ahead from another Drake penalty.

Trowbridge had come back into the game but on 31 minutes their was a disagreement between the packs and Bristol referee Tom Picton sin binned Abby’s No 8 Steve Willis and Trowbridge’s Nick Lawes.

The change in numbers seemed to benefit Trowbridge because first from a set piece in front of the Abbey posts Ali Lund went through a gap to score and Davis converted and almost immediately a move from the right resulted in Trowbridge skipper Adam Sullivan chipping over the oncoming defence and Ashley Chalk gathered the ball and went over wide out.

Davis’ conversion hit the bar before bouncing over to give Trowbridge a 17-6 half time lead.

At the start of the second half Abbey were determined to reduce the arrears and they exerted a fair amount of pressure, but the Green Lane sides defence held firm.

They had several chances to reduce the lead but Trowbridge prevented scores. After several moves were repelled by Trowbridge they accepted two relatively easy penalty chances converted by Drake and at this point it looked like the Reading side could snatch the match, but Trowbridge returned to the attack in the middle of the second period and produced an excellent last quarter.

Abbey were forced to infringe and two long range Davis penalties meant that more than one score was necessary.

Such was his confidence he attempted a penalty inside his own half such but this time his contact with the ball was poor and the ball fell short.

Trowbridge were playing with more confidence now and in the last few minutes an opening was created for Ashley Chalk who was left with a one on one with his opposite number and he coolly beat him to go over for a try and Davis kicked another penalty with the last kick of the match.

This was a good performance by Trowbridge who did not allow the Reading side many opportunities and always looked threatening with the ball in hand.

Flanker had an outstanding match at flanker and was always prominent in the Trowbridge attacks.

Trowbridge host league leaders Maidenhead at Green Lane on Saturday and will need to be at their best to upset the Braywick Park club who look as if they will return to South West 1 at the first attempt. Kick off is at 2.30pm.