Aylesbury's life of Riley

Aylesbury Grammar School reached the quarter-finals for the first time butthey had to come through a battle royal with Reading before winning 18-10.

They had the best of starts and were rewarded for some heavy pressure witha penalty from their dangerous part-time winger Andrew Riley, who is makinga name for himself at soccer as a full back with Wycombe Wanderers.

Reading finally upped their game after Aylesbury No 8 Jerome Lawler usedhis power from a ruck 15 metres out to score the first try. Their pack heldthe edge in the tight and the rucks and their defence was superb.

They tookconfidence at being only 8-0 down at half time and within five minutes ofthe restart had swept down the slope to score a try wide out through OwenGlithro.

The decisive moments came midway through the half. Aylesbury, althoughunder pressure in their 22, shipped the ball wide to Riley whose 60 metretouchline run led to a penalty, which he slotted over himself.

From therestart, the Aylesbury back line had learned their lesson, fed the ballquickly to centre Nick Kendall who went through four attempted tacklesbefore an inside break sent him under the posts. Riley did the honoursagain.

Reading battled on and ran the ball at every opportunity but Aylesburymatched them for determination and their dogged defence was only breachedonce when centre Dan Fox scrambled over.

"We're delighted,' said Aylesbury coach Gray Ramsbottom, 'especially withthe way they battled. Reading were quality opponents but if we can give ourbacks the service, they will trouble anybody.'