Reading RFC continued their good run against the top sides by beating second placed Stow at Holme Park.
They ran in three tries in the first half and followed up with a second half score to seal their win. Reading’s forward power particularly in the scrum and their ability to convert their chances gave them a deserved win against the only team to do the double over them last season.
Before the match there was a minute’s applause for Curtis Hutson, a much-loved member of the very successful Reading team of the 1980s and 90s who had sadly died at a relatively young age.
Once the game began Reading dominated territory in the early exchanges, helped by the indiscipline of the Stow team who gave away eight penalties in the first fifteen minutes.
Reading’s scrum dominance was apparent from early on and the makeshift front row of Clarkson, Proctor-Searle and King, playing at prop instead of hooker, soon had their opponents going backwards.
It was from a scrum near the line that the first Reading try came, the referee awarding a penalty try and yellow carding the Stow No 8 as the main offender from the Stow pack in illegally preventing a push over.
Stow came back well and launched a series of attacks in the Reading 22 but the Reading defence held out and when the ball went loose from an inaccurate pass Matt Daw scooped it up and showed the Stow defence a clean pair of heels running in a try from his own 10 metre line. Sharp converted to give Reading a 14-0 lead.
Stow threatened again from the kick off but handling errors and indiscipline let them down. A penalty gave Reading a lineout in the Stow 22 from which they launched a series of attacks eventually working an overlap for Dorliac to score in the corner. Sharp converted with a good kick to make the score 21-0.
Stow came back well at the end of the half and when Reading gave away possession some slick passing found a gap in the Reading defensive line resulting in a converted try making the score at the break 21-7 in Reading’s favour.
The second half started with Stow attacking to try to reduce the deficit and the Reading defence holding out. The dominant Reading scrum giving them an easy option to relieve pressure.
Stow did not help themselves and continued to give away penalties and from one of these Murray-Smith found a touch deep in the Stow 22. From the resulting line out Smith forced his way over for Reading’s fourth try and a bonus point. Sharp converted with another good kick.
As in the first half Stow responded well and after a number of phases they crossed in the corner for an unconverted try.
Both sides had their chances from this point. Dorliac for Reading was just overhauled after a long run. Stow’s handling continued to let them down but they did manage a breakaway converted try.
In the last ten minutes, both defences were dominant and neither team could make anything off their possession with Reading holding out for a 28-19 win.
This was a significant win for Reading which showed for the second home game in a row their ability to beat teams in the top three of the league. As well as the scrum dominance there were good performances from Egan and Smith who were willing runners and always put their team on the front foot.
Head Coach Lee Goodall was proud of the resilience the team showed to keep going throughout the game and not allow Stow back in the game. He was also pleased that Reading are now moving up the league towards the top group of teams.
Reading are at home again next Saturday to Swindon who they beat 7-6 earlier in the season.
Tries: Penalty, Daw, Dorliac, Smith
Conversions: Sharp (3).
Report by Peter Chidgey
