Reading lost by 44 points to a Marlborough team which have scored at least 40 points in all their previous games.
Marlborough have recruited heavily in the close season and had seven British Army based Fijians in their squad who displayed a level of physical power combined with speed and handling skills which Reading have not faced for some years.
Marlborough always looked dangerous and posed a threat both from their pack and their slick back line.
Despite the score, Reading played well and held their high-flying opponents for long periods in the game and doubled the points scored against them so far this season.
Marlborough started with pace and force, running back the kick off and almost scoring and although they were initially held out, were 12-0 up after ten minutes. Both tries started with their forwards.
The Reading scrum was under early pressure and Marlborough’s number eight broke from a scrum close to the line and slickly offloaded for a try under the posts. They then drove a lineout to score an unconverted try.
Reading fought back well after the early reverses but strong tackling and aggression over the ball by Marlborough kept them out.
Marlborough then showed how dangerous their backs were running in an unconverted try from their own 22 which was finished off by a kick and chase by their winger.
Reading were rewarded for taking the game to the opposition and opened their account with a try resulting from a precise cross kick by Alex Murray Smith over the opposing winger into the hands of Jordan Gomez for him to touch down on his first game since returning to Reading.
Reading continued their good period of pressure and scored the next points when after an attack broke down Sam Bowers dropped a goal to bring the score back to 8-17.
Reading kept their opponents out until just before the break. But in the last five minutes of the half Marlborough extended their lead, firstly taking advantage of a turnover in midfield to score a converted try and on the stroke of half time a slick backs’ move following two scrum penalties resulted in a converted try.
Marlborough soon added to their 8-31 half time lead beginning the second half as they ended the first half with two quick tries, both down the left.
The first a converted try from another slick backs’ move and the second from running back a kick that didn’t find touch for an unconverted try.
Marlborough looked like they could score from anywhere on the pitch but Reading coped gamely with them for the rest of the second half gaining a good share of the ball but lacking their opponents finishing power.
Marlborough again showed this with two further tries from good back play one of which was converted.
Reading came back well at the end of the game pleasing the home support with a try from Ryan Smith who made an initial break and then took advantage of good forward driving to cross from close in.
Reading scorers:
Tries: Jordan Gomez, Ryan Smith.
Drop Goal: Sam Bowers
Team: Tom Sharp; Robbie Webster, Alex Dorliac, Alex Murray-Smith, Jordan Gomez; Sam Bowers, Nathan Wheeler; Josh Pallett, Steve King, Josh Nichol; Gavin Egan, Ryan Smith; Will Proctor-Searle, Max Pepper, Rob Cunningham.
Replacements: Harry Wilson, Brent Lee, Christian Scott.
Report by Peter Chidgey
