A superb comeback by Reading gave them a hard-fought victory over a Salisbury side which scored four early tries to rack up a 21 point lead half way through the first half.
Reading managed to fight back with four tries of their own to clinch a bonus point win.
Salisbury had defeated Reading 46-7 in the first game of the season and for a while they looked well on the way to doing so again. They began the game strongly as though they expected a repeat of the earlier victory.
They opened the scoring after six minutes when their scrum half broke through and set up a converted try near the posts.
Reading struck back and after good interplay between forwards and backs Wheeler finished the move off in the corner for an unconverted try. But Salisbury then scored three tries in 10 minutes taking advantage of some poor tackling and defensive disorganisation.
Firstly, a good miss move put their winger clear to score a converted try, then the scrum half made another break which this time he finished off himself for another converted try and finally a good break from the centre gave their winger another try, this time unconverted, to give Salisbury a 5-26 lead.
Reading then started to launch some attacks of their own and after a period of pressure in the Salisbury 22, two of the Salisbury players were yellow carded in quick succession for offences whilst trying to stem the Reading attacks.
Reading took advantage and pushed the Salisbury scrum over their line for Cunningham to score. Jonny Sharp on his debut converted. Reading continued to press and good interplay between Dorliac, Borthwick and Sharp put Murray-Smith over in the corner.
Sharp converted with a good kick to make the half time score 19-26.
The second half was all Reading, their scrum had gained ascendancy and they denied Salisbury the possession they had won in the first half. As the half went on Reading pressed in the Salisbury 22 but for a while last ditch tackling and some inaccurate handling stopped them scoring.
Eventually just when it looked like Salisbury were going to break free the ball was moved to Smith on the Salisbury 22 who beat off would be tacklers to score near the posts. Sharp converted to level the scores.
Reading now sensed victory and from a charged down Salisbury clearance Sofidya almost made it to the line.
The Reading forwards then attempted to batter their way over and eventually Cunningham scored near the posts. Sharp converted to give Reading a seven point lead.
Salisbury were now a beaten side and Reading held on without incident for a 33-26 win.
Lee Goodall, Reading’s head coach was pleased with his team’s spirit, energy and refusal to let their heads go down when faced with a big deficit. He had particular praise for Brandon Taplin who made himself a real nuisance to Salisbury with his tackling.
This game marked Stuart Borthwick’s 100th game for Reading, a player who will never admit defeat and whose versatility has served Reading well in a number of positions.
This Saturday is Reading’s last league game of the season at home against Devizes.
By Peter Chidgey
