READING PRODUCE SPIRITED COMEBACK

By PETER CHIDGEY sport@wokingham.today

The grim weather meant the anticipated 3,000-plus crowd did not fully materialise, but there was still an impressive Albion following bolstered by those taking part in the Men’s Day Out for the St Luke’s Hospice.

Reynolds continued: “It was a really good crowd which probably helped get them across the line, and it was fantastic for the players to perform in front of that.”

The defeat snapped Rams’ eight-match winning run but there were still some outstanding performances, especially in the forwards, with Kidd, Hayman and former Plymouth man Dan Swain excellent.

Reynolds added: “Niall has been superb to comeback into the side after a long time out and to do 80 minutes back-to-back and look fresh towards the end was great.

“I thought Max came into the game well and there were some other good performances –Swainer coming back in and Robbie leading from the front.

“I can’t fault the effort from the lads, but it wasn’t our day and it’s just one of those things.

“We’ve had a lot of rugby and a break will be nice, and then on to a very challenging game.” motivated, and their challenge is probably to do that for the remaining games to show they can do that consistently.

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 halfway through the first half. Reading managed to fight back with four tries of their own to clinch a bonus point win.

Salisbury 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 and 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.

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.

The ball was moved to Smith on the Salisbury 22 to score near the posts. Sharp converted to level the scores.

“Our guys came back well and we perhaps didn’t deserve to have a shot to win it, but we did and we got two bonus-points from the game which is probably fair.”

He continued: “Rugby goes in waves and it tends to focus around discipline. We started well with good discipline and structure, building pressure and we got a score.

“Then (at the start of the second half) there was a stage where both sides were feeling each other out, either they were going to kick on or we were going to comeback, and it went into a bit of a stalemate.

“I thought when they took the three points it maybe gave us a chance to comeback, and we started to do that, but crucial errors at crucial times cost us.”

Despite being beaten for just the third time this season in 22 matches, Rams still have a six point lead at the top over closest challengers Sale.

Third place Cambridge are currently nine points behind Rams with a game in hand.

With four games remaining in what has been a compelling National One season, Rams have a week off before welcoming resurgent Taunton Titans to Old Bath Road on Saturday, March 25.

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 weekend sees Reading’s last league game of the season at home against Devizes.