Windsor celebrate their promotion with thumping win over Reading Abbey

Having secured promotion as one of the best runners up at level seven of the RFU League Pyramid with their victory at Wallingford a few weeks ago, Windsor celebrated that accomplishment a blistering 69-10 win over Reading Abbey at Home Park on the final day.

Coach Andy Symons’ side had kicked off the campaign with a rather nervy and unconvincing victory over Abbey in September, but they bookended it in more impressive fashion, running in 11 tries to seal a comfortable victory on a day of celebration at the club.

Before the season got underway, coach Symons’ goal was to try and get the side promoted, with the team having missed out on a best-placed runners up spot narrowly the previous year.

And while they couldn’t quite keep pace with champions Oxford Harlequins 2nds, who won all but one of their 22 matches - losing only to Windsor at Home Park - they did enough to finish as one of the six best-placed runners-up at their level and will test themselves at a higher-level next season.

Their bonus point win over Abbey took them to 96 points for the season, just nine behind Quins and 16 ahead of third placed Buckingham - one of only three teams to defeat Windsor all season.

With Windsor’s ‘Club Day’ taking place at Home Park, the ground was packed for the visit of Abbey on the final day, and it was evident from the first whistle the hosts were keen to put on a show.

They ran in seven tries in a dominant first half performance, conceding just two, and though they weren’t quite able to maintain that level of performance in the second half, they still ran in four more tries to round off the season in some style.

A minute’s silence was held before the game to mark the recent death of coach Craig Truter, a stalwart of the club’s coaching setup for many years.

A statement posted by the club said: “He encapsulated all that was good in this world both on the training fields and in the clubhouse.

“His mantra of playing for fun, while respecting your teammates, opponents, parents, referees and coaches combined seamlessly with his inner determination and drive, creating a unique rugby experience in the process.

“The children he coached are all, without fail, better people as a result of knowing him.

“Although he did not suffer fools gladly, he was a rock for so many of us and we navigate life with all the trials and tribulations that can entail.”

The club said it has been flooded with tributes from across the club and its thoughts remain with Craig’s wife, Steph, and children.

With the blessing of Craig’s family, a donation page has been set up to support initiatives including a professional coach development scheme and Coach of the Year prize.

Windsor had secured promotion at Wallingford on March 22, in a scrappier affair where neither team was able to play fluent rugby.

Having fallen behind to an early penalty, the visitors grabbed the lead at half-time thanks to a try from George Moran, converted by Ben Grant-Adamson and they made more of their possession and phases of play after the interval with Samson Turner- Stewart and Joe Triegaardt both going over to extend their advantage. The visitors then sealed a bonus-point win when vice-captain Grant-Adamson touched down after a break from captain Allen Crawshaw - a fitting way for the team to secure the win and promotion to level six of the RFU League Pyramid.