A hat-trick of tries from Reading’s Rob Cunningham marked his 100th appearance to give the side a well-earned victory over third in the league Tottonians.
This was sweet revenge for the Reading team who had lost heavily in the reverse fixture.
The foundation of the victory was a superb defensive display from the Holme Park men which, against the wind, kept the visitors scoreless for the last 25 minutes of the game.
Reading, who were playing with a strong wind behind them in the first half, took an early lead.
Matt Smart put pressure on Tottonians with an accurate touch-finder that pinned them near their line. An infringement at a line out resulted in a Reading scrum which they pushed over the line for Cunningham to score his first try.
Tottonians came back strongly and showed why they are near the top of the league.
They won a steady stream of possession especially from line outs where Reading struggled early on as neither of their recognised line out jumpers were playing. Tottonians looked after the ball well but a superbly organised Reading defensive line and some good scrambling defence kept them out.
After sustaining a period of pressure Reading came more into the game. Accurate kicking from Smart and Bowers setting up some good positions from which they launched attacks of their own and they were eventually awarded a penalty five metres out from the Tottonians’ line from which Cunningham crashed over for his second try which Smart converted from wide out to give his team a twelve point lead.
Tottonians responded well to the Reading score and after some good pressure eventually crossed for an unconverted try from a short penalty with five minutes of the half left.
At this point with the prospect of playing with the wind in the second half they seemed to have played themselves into a good position.
But just before the break Reading won a line out deep in Tottonians territory. They moved the ball swiftly along the line to Gomez who powered in at the corner to give Reading a 17-5 lead at the break.
Better was to come as early in the second half Reading moved the ball wide from their own half and Dorliac made good ground before he was held up. Reading recycled the ball well and Dorliac got close to the line with a second break and was eventually hauled down but Cunningham was on hand to crash over for his third try.
Smart converted from the touch line into the wind with a superb kick and Reading were 24-7 up and had a good lead to defend.
The second half followed the pattern of the first with resolute defence by Reading holding Tottonians out.
Tottonians did not make the same intelligent use of the wind as Smart and Bowers had for Reading in the first half, at one stage kicking over the dead ball line and being taken back to their own
half on two occasions in quick succession.
Reading’s scum also became a factor. They had been on top throughout the game and achieved increasing scrum dominance through the second half which brought frequent penalties allowing them to relieve pressure.
Tottonians did manage to breach the Reading defence once from a good move that saw them cross near the posts for a converted try.
Apart from this, Reading’s defensive line continued to hold out against frequent Tottonians attacks and when the line was breached good scramble defence stopped their opponents from scoring for Reading to hold out comfortably for the win.
For Reading it was a good all-round team performance. As well as Cunningham’s hat trick which stole the plaudits, Adam Wright at open side was always prominent in the loose and after a tricky start won a good share of line out ball as stand-in line out jumper.
The scrummaging of front row of Nichol, King and Pallett together with replacement Proctor-Searle also contributed greatly to the win.
Lee Goodall, the head coach, was very happy with the way that the team not only defended but were sharp enough to take their attacking opportunities.
He praised both the spirit the team showed and their intelligence and discipline.
This is a win which should give this Reading team a lot of confidence going into the second half of the season.
It has moved them up to sixth in the league, it is the first time this season they have beaten any of the top five teams and has shown them that on their day they are a match for any side in this league.
Next week they are playing at bottom of the table Buckingham and will be looking to continue their good form.
Reading scorers:
Tries: Cunningham (3), Gomez
Conversions: Smart (2)
Team: Alex Dorliac; Jordan Gomez, Tom Sharp, Stuart Borthwick, Matt Daw; Matt Smart, Sam Bowers; Josh Pallett, Steve King, Josh Nichol; Ryan Smith, Kyle Turner; Will Proctor-Searle, Adam Wright, Rob Cunningham.
Replacements: Mike Bolton, Max Pepper, Ben Mitchell.
By Peter Chidgey
