| This South West Division One game had plenty of entertainment with an abundance of open rugby and twelve tries. It was not, however,
the game Reading wanted to play. Forewarned of the strength of the Gloucester side’s backs, particularly on the wing, coach Alastair McHarg had
planned a tight game, keeping the ball close to the forwards. |
| And for the first half an hour or so the plan worked and Reading led 10-7. But then winger Codling, a danger throughout,
caught a Reading kick in his own 22 and raced away to set up a good position in front of the Reading posts for fly half Baker to score a
try which he converted himself. Minutes later Baker was converting a try by the other winger, Carr and the visitors led 21-10 at half time.
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| Reading came back well in the early stages of the second half, a couple of strong five metre scrums leading to a well-taken try by Greg
Clark, who had come on as a substitute for the injured David Choules at half time. Nick Brooks’ fine conversion from the touchline brought his
side to within four points.
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| Yet it was Coney Hill who scored the next two tries. The first came from centre Overthrow after Codlin had run back a Reading cross
kick and the second from Codlin himself after Baker’s long kick had bounced kindly for him.
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| Reading came back with a winger’s try of their own, Duncan Mollison scoring the first of two tries, converted by Brooks, but three
more winger’s tries from Carr (2 – to complete a hat-trick) and Codlin put the visitors out of sight. In between these Mollison scored again after
Andrew Grierson had made a great run. Nick Brooks, who had a good game firstly at full back and then in the centre, kept his conversion rate
at 100%.
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| Earlier in the game a Reading win had looked distinctly possible. While Coney Hill managed to control their own lineouts they
struggled in the scrums and Reading’s power up front ought to have provided a good platform for a win. Yet it was the visitors who scored the
first try, lock Cooper driving over for Baker to convert after five minutes.
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| Five minutes later Reading came back with a good forwards drive and fly half Billy Bragg darted over. More of the same was
to follow, with Bragg looking elusive, and a Brooks penalty put the home side in the lead. More Reading pressure followed but the Gloucester
side defended stoutly and, with fly half Baker kicking well for position and the wingers a danger whenever they got hold of the ball they ran away
with the game.
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| After the match McHarg was disappointed that his charges had not stuck to the driving game in the loose as the game
progressed but they were not helped by referee Tom Davis’ insistence that they move the ball away more quickly.
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| READING: Nick Brooks; Andrew Tweedie, Alex Wallace (Capt), David Choules (Greg Clark, h-t),
Duncan Mollison; Billy Bragg, Tom Goodhew; Richard Pryor (Dan Phillips, 70 mins), Paul Fisher, Andrew Grierson (Axel Rees, 60 mins),
Gary McLaughlin (Grierson, 70 mins), Sean Kenneally, Matt Davies, David Carey, Scott Hereine . |
| CONEY HILL: M Knight; D Carr, C Overthrow, S Felice, N Codlin; R Baker, L Liggott, C Layton, R Nicholls, L Trevor,
C Cooper, R Shannon, K Hanna, C Ballinger (capt), J Baker Subs: M Rimmer, L Neal, P Harrington |
| SCORING: 5 mins Cooper try, Baker con (0-7), 10 mins Bragg try, Brooks con (7-7), 25 mins Brooks pen (10-7), 32 mins
Baker try and con (10-14), 39 mins Carr try, Baker con (10-21), 45 mins Clark try, Brooks con (17-21), 57 mins Overthrow try (17-26), 60 mins
Codlin try, Baker con (17-33), 66 mins Mollison try, Brooks con (24-33), 72 mins Carr try (24-38), 76 mins Carr try, Baker con (24-45),
78 mins Mollison try, Brooks con (31-45), 80 mins Codlin try, Baker con (31-52)
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| Ted Goodhew
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