Reading’s promising start to the season was abruptly ended by a dynamic first half performance from Windsor who rattled up thirty six points without reply by the break.
Although Reading improved in the second half narrowly outscoring their opponents, the damage had already been done and their efforts proved too little and too late.
Reading were slower to react in the first half whilst Windsor were well drilled, prepared to attack with enthusiasm and good support play and defend aggressively whenever Reading threatened.
Windsor gave notice of what was to come, scoring an unconverted try after three minutes from a series of phases near the Reading line after they had worked an initial overlap.
Reading were playing with nothing like the urgency they showed against Buckingham and Windsor soon added a penalty after Reading were caught in possession in front of the posts.
Windsor’s speed of thought soon led to another try when in their first bit of concerted possession a Reading attempt to move the ball along the line was intercepted by the Windsor wing who raced through to score a converted try for a 15-0 lead after ten minutes.
Windsor continued to stack up the points and another series of attacking moves gave them a third try near the posts. Their fourth try soon followed as a result of strong running and good support play which gave them a bonus point before the thirty minute mark. Both were converted to make the lead 29 points.
For the opening half hour Reading appeared to be under permanent siege and were not helped by some poor line kicking which allowed Windsor to maintain the pressure.
Reading did have a rare period of attacking after half an hour with a good effort by Smith just being held out and a Reading pushover try just thwarted by some questionable Windsor tactics.
However, this was short-lived as from a ruck on the halfway line the ball was turned over by the Windsor No 8 who picked up, kicked through, and with no covering defence. won the race to the line for their final try of the first half.
Reading began the second half on the front foot and soon scored through Will Proctor-Searle who caught the Windsor defence napping by taking a quick penalty and beating the defence to score an unconverted try. Windsor soon replied in kind when another series of rucks near the Reading line resulted in a converted try.
Reading were better in the second half and scored again from a line out near the Windsor line which they drove for Ryan Smith to touch down. Tom Sharp converted with a good kick from far out.
At this stage Reading were doing well in the tight both in the scrums where they made a mess of several Windsor scrums and the line outs and were beginning to frustrate Windsor who gave away so many penalties that the referee eventually yellow carded one of their back row.
However, despite this Windsor scored an unconverted try when their left wing showed real speed to outstrip the Reading defence and score in the corner.
It was then Reading’s turn to score and in their best move of the match, the ball was moved through multiple hands before Luca Busciglio-Bland scored in the corner. Sharp converted with a good kick to make the score 49-19.
Reading needed another try for a bonus point but it was Windsor who scored when their half backs combined to beat a tired Reading defence. The match finished with Reading on the attack but a handling error stopped them from capitalising on a good position.
Coach Mark Eastley although heartened by the second half performance said that the team had been taught that they needed to be on their game from the start as it is difficult to come back once the other team get too far ahead early in the match.
Reading play Oxford Harlequins II next week who are unbeaten after two games in what is likely to be another stern test.
Tries: Proctor-Searle, Smith, Busciglio-Bland
Conversions: Sharp (2)
Reading RFC: Jason Carr; Charlie Attard, Jos Clarke, Archie Wright, Luca Busciglio-Bland; Tom Sharp, Hayden Wheeler; Steve King, Luke Palmer, Ryan Smith; Jamie McIntyre, Harvey Rice; Joe Price, Will Proctor-Searle (capt.), Jack Wilson.
Replacements: Dave Southworth, Jonathan McKeogh, Jake Clift
