Reading suffered a narrow defeat for the second week in a row in this rearranged match at Bicester. They began well but let Bicester back into the game and just failed at the end to find a winning score. They were not helped by the unsighted referee disallowing two scores in the late stages which would have given them a crucial lead.
Reading made all the early running and were up almost from the kick off. An Ollie Humphries turnover in the first minute resulted in a Reading penalty which Sam Bowers slotted home to give his side an early lead.
Reading continued to attack strongly and after good work by centre pair Harry Morgan and James Barker-Lopez, a break by Kieran Williams, was stopped just short of the line. The ball was worked out to Barker-Lopez who beat off a defender to score in the corner and give Reading an eight point lead.
Reading continued to press and some good forward drives in which Humphries was prominent led to another penalty which Bowers put just wide of the posts.
Bicester had not entered the Reading 22 in the first twenty minutes then managed to score with their first real attack. They took advantage of the slope on one side of the pitch and the wet underfoot conditions and used their big forwards in multiple phases before scoring in the corner.
Reading soon came back again and after good ground was made by each of the back row in turn, Reading were awarded a penalty close to the posts which Bowers kicked to make the score 5-11 in Reading’s favour.
Bicester now came more into the game with their driven line outs proving a potent weapon. They scored again when Reading conceded a penalty which resulted in a line out close to their line which Bicester drove to score a try in the corner. This was converted to give them a one point lead.
On the stroke of half time a good Reading attack resulted in a penalty and Bowers kicked his third penalty to make the half time score Bicester 12 Reading 14.
Bicester had a good spell at the beginning of the second half using their driving line out and their big forwards to go down the slope towards the Reading corner. The pressure eventually told when they scored an unconverted try in the corner to take a 17-14 lead.
Reading then had more of the territory and possession as the match continued. Despite laying siege to the Bicester line they could not make the vital breakthrough. They were denied two tries, one when Joe Clarkson forced his way over from a line out close to the line and one when Will Proctor-Searle forced his way over after a series of Reading attacks.
For both of these the Reading player seemed to get the initial touchdown but both were ruled as held up by Bicester defenders by the referee whose vision of the initial touchdowns was blocked. Another good effort by Morgan was also ruled as just short of the line.
Reading finished the game on the attack near the Bicester line but the Bicester defence held out to leave Reading rueing not taking their early opportunities and their inability to turn pressure into points in the final quarter.
For Reading, Humphries shone in a good performance by all the back row until he was unfortunately injured whilst Williams on debut made a promising start and looked to have lots of potential.
Reading coach Mark Eastley was disappointed that Reading were unable to capitalise on their good start and allowed themselves to get drawn into a physical battle for parts of the game which worked to their opponents advantage.
Reading are away again next week to Chinnor III.
Scorers
Try: Barker-Lopez
Penalty: Bowers (3)
TEAM: Jos Clarke; Jason Carr, Harry Morgan, James Barker-Lopez, George Coker; Sam Bowers, Keiran Williams; Dave Southworth, Luke Palmer, Ryan Smith; Joe Clarkson, Lewis Donnelly; Ollie Humphries, Will Proctor-Searle (capt.), Alex Rowe.
Replacements: Joe Fuller, Greg Jackson, Charlie Attard
