READING FALL SHORT IN FRANTIC ENCOUNTER STILL TIME TO ENTER WOKY HALF MARATHON

By PETER CHIDGEY sport@wokingham.today

READING lost for the first time this year, thanks to a last minute try from a Swindon team who avenged a similar result at their ground earlier in the season.

Swindon outscored

Reading by four tries to two in a scrappy encounter in which Reading had appeared to do enough to win especially after Swindon had four players yellow carded in the second half.

After 15 minutes, Swindon scored an unconverted try with their first venture into the Reading 22 when a driven line out almost reached the line and they scored from the next phase.

Five minutes later they repeated the exercise from their next entry into the Reading 22 this time taking the drive all the way to the line.

Reading came back strongly at the end of the half but were unable to convert their opportunities until on the point of half time

Matt Daw ran onto a cross kick from Tom Sharp to go over for a try which Sharp converted from the touch line to make put Swindon 10-7 in front.

Soon after the break Swindon again scored an unconverted try from a driving line out to give themselves an eight point lead.

After a number of penalties the Swindon number eight was yellow carded.

Reading launched a series of attacks with the extra man advantage but were unable to cross the line.

Swindon added to their problems when as soon as the number eight returned their scrum half was yellow carded. Reading continued to press and eventually Proctor-Searle scored a fine opportunist try to give Reading an 18-15 lead.

Swindon were then reduced to thirteen men after one of their players dissented from the referee’s decision to award the try and their coach was red carded.

Despite their numerical disadvantage Swindon attacked from the kick off and just failed to score from a driving line out after which another of their players received a yellow card for dissent.

Gomez of Reading quickly followed for a high tackle and for the last play Swindon had 13 players and Reading 14.

Despite this Swindon won a line out in the Reading 22 and having initially driven, moved the ball out wide for their wing to score in the corner. The try was converted for Swindon to run out winners 22-18.

WOKINGHAM half marathon race organiser Chris Sumner is hoping for a full capacity race in this year’s event.

The course will see 3,000 participants take on the 13.1 mile course on Sunday, February 26.

With the race just a couple of weeks away, the organisers are encouraging any last-minute participants to sign up as quickly as possible.

“We’re at around 2,700 entries at the moment so we expect those to fill out quickly to be at capacity,” said Chris.

“So anyone still thinking of signing up, do it quickly because we’re getting close, but there is still time.

“With London being back on at its usual time, Wokingham has always been a great warm-up for that. It always attracts a really good crowd of athletes.”

As well as the half marathon, there will also be the children’s Mini Mile.

Chris said: “The mini mile is something we created just to trial it (in 2020) and we had a few runners take part so we’ve extended it and are expecting more than 100 children to take part.

“It’s a fun run and parents can join in with their children.

“We have prizes for boys and girls in each age group.

“It’s something that we want to keep on expanding in future years and make more of it.” n For more information, visit: wokinghamhalfmarathon.com