READING HELD OFF AT HOME BY PROMOTION CHASING TOTTONIANS
READING RFC, despite competing well, went down to a home defeat to promotion chasing Tottonians.
The Southampton-based side ultimately had too much cohesion and power for a Reading side that made them fight for each of their five tries and in a hopeful sign scored three of their own.
Reading had one of their best starts of the season when Cunningham caught a goal line drop out and set up an overlap on the left which allowed Charlie Attard to score in the corner.
David converted with a good kick from wide to give Reading an early 7-0 lead.
The home side continued to attack and threatened to increase this lead with a period of pressure which Tottonians held out.
However, the visitors slowly came into the game and a good move from a line out on the halfway line put their winger through a gap and he raced away managing to avoid potential tacklers to score a converted try near the posts.
This was followed by a period of Tottonian pressure which Reading found difficult to relieve and eventually Lewis was yellow carded for an infringement near the Reading line. From the resulting short penalty Tottonians forced their way over for a converted try to give them the lead.
Reading held out well for the rest of the yellow card period and once returned to full numbers launched a series of attacks on the Tottonian line.
The visitors were reduced to 14 by a yellow card of their own for a high hit on Wheeler. And it was Wheeler on the stroke of half time who then scored for Reading bursting over from a ruck near the Tottonian posts. David converted to level the scores.
The beginning of the second half was a cagey affair with both sides having their chances. It was, however, Tottonians that struck first. After Reading gave away a penalty in their own half, Tottonians set up a line out in the corner and after some good interpassing worked an overlap on their right wing for a try which was converted with an excellent kick from the touch line.
Tottonians from this point increased the pressure keeping Reading in their own 22 for long periods relying in the main on their pack playing a physical game and the pressure eventually told when from a short penalty near the line they forced their way over in the corner for a try.
They added another try, in a similar way, not long after again coming from good inter-passing and phase play from their forwards which left Reading with a mismatch under their posts. This was converted to make the score 14-33.
Reading came back in the last 10 minutes and although the Tottonian defence initially held out a series of attacks Lewis eventually managed to touch down near the posts after a break from the back of a scrum by David. Dorliac converted to make the final score 21-33.
This was a brave display by a Reading team against opponents who showed why they are third in the league.
The forward battle was attritional but Reading stood up well both in the scrums and at the breakdown and made Tottonians fight for their scores. In the end Tottonians had just a bit too much fire power.
This defeat leaves
Reading in bottom position needing to win most of their remaining games to avoid the drop.