Reading lost this game, in which they were ahead for long periods, to a converted try with eight minutes to go.
Holidays, a long injury list and some late call offs left Reading with a threadbare side with only two replacements one of whom was Director of Rugby, Andy Arter. Despite this Reading took their opportunities in attack, defended with spirit and were in this game until the end.
Reading who have yet to win on the road this season had another disappointing start conceding an unconverted try in the corner from some scrappy build up play by Devizes in the third minute. They however struck back from the kick off with some good attacking play and their pressure was rewarded with a penalty which Matt Smart, playing his first game for the club in five years converted.
The game settled into a pattern with Devises attacking but the Reading defence holding them out. Reading’s aggressive defence paid off when they recovered the ball after a good break by the Devizes full back and moved it quickly along the line to Christian Scott.
The wing made good ground before setting up Stuart Borthwick who with an impressive turn of speed outstripped the defence to score under the posts. Smart converted to give Reading a five point lead.
Devises had more territory and an extra man after Smart was yellow carded for a high tackle but could not break down the Reading defence. The only points they managed with this advantage were from a penalty. As soon as he was released from the sin bin, Smart promptly replied with his own superb long range penalty to re-establish Reading’s lead.
Reading grew in confidence as the half went on with the backline showing some slick passing and their scrum beginning to dominate. They were lucky however that on the stroke of half time a Devizes try from a good move which started in their own half was disallowed for a forward pass.
Reading caught their opponents cold at the start of the second half when early pressure led to an unconverted try for Christian Scott to extend their lead to 8-18.
Devises changed their style in the second half to a much more physically direct ‘pick and go’ approach rather than trying to spread the ball as they had in the first half. This put the Reading defence under constant pressure and after conceding a number of penalties in their own 22 eventually the pressure told and Devises scored from a driven line out. The try was converted to reduce Reading’s lead to three points.
Worse was to follow as from the kick off Reading conceded a penalty from which Devizes set up a position in the Reading 22 from which Reading conceded a further penalty. This was quickly taken and resulted in a converted try in the corner to give Devizes the lead at 22-18.
Reading then hit back winning a penalty from the kick off and put Devizes back into their own 22. They drove the resulting line out and Ryan Smith broke away towards the posts. He slipped the ball to Stuart Borthwick who crossed for his second try which was converted by Smart to give Reading a 22-25 lead.
Both sides then had chances as they struggled to get a winning score. But it was Devizes with their ‘pick and go’ tactics who managed to force their way over for their fourth try which was converted to give them what proved to be the final winning margin of 29-25.
In the end Reading were left with a losing bonus point, as despite a brave defensive effort they could not manage to hold on to their lead against the more physical approach of a Devizes team which seemed to grow stronger as the second half went on.
Reading’s standout players were the centre pairing of Borthwick, for his aggressive running, which was rewarded with two tries, and Smart for his distribution skills and kicking.
Reading play Grove who are just above them in the table at home next week in a game which they need to win to stay above the bottom places in the league.
Reading scorers:
Try: Stuart Borthwick (2), Christian Scott
Conversions: Matt Smart (2)
Penalties: Matt Smart (2)
Team: Jos Clarke; Ben Mitchell, Stuart Borthwick, Matt Smart, Christian Scott; Finbar O’Regan, Nathan Wheeler; Harry Wilson, Steve King, Josh Nichol; Gavin Egan, Ryan Smith; Max Pepper, Will Proctor-Searle, Joe Clarkson.
Replacements: Lewis Donnelly, Andrew Arter.
Report by Peter Chidgey
