| This South West Division One local derby – the first-ever league match between the sides – turned out to be
an absolute cracker as the home team turned recent form on its head to gain a deserved win. Reading scored a try in the
first minute, through the league’s top try scorer Duncan Mollison, and led throughout the game, apart from a three minute
spell in the first half when Craig Clement’s try gave the visitors a one point lead. Hooker Paul Fisher’s try then gave Reading
the lead again and they hung on to this until the end. |
| Reading won because they had more possession of the ball through their pack and because they retained
the ball much better than they have all season. The front row of Andy Grierson, Fisher and Richard Pryor was awesome and
Sean Kenneally, as usual, did a good job in the lineouts. Gensians have struggled generally in the lineouts this season but, by
and large, they did well on their own ball through Iain Buzza. Reading were also quicker to the breakdown and Fisher and Pryor
were to the fore here as well. |
| Reading’s scrummaging has been good all season and the Old Bath Road side seldom had the ball
going forward to release their lively backs. Spike Chandler had a good game at fly half and Jevon Marsh was
always a threat but too often the admirable Griff Davies was having to tidy up retreating ball for his scrum half Mark
Childerhouse. The visitors missed their skipper Jez Flynn, who was unwell, but even he would have had difficulties,
considering the dominance of the Reading pack. |
| Many of the 400 or so spectators were still emerging from the
clubhouse when Reading took the lead. They set up a lineout from the kick off, caught and drove,
opened the ball out and Andrew Tweedie off loaded for Duncan Mollison to score his tenth try of the season.
Tweedie then added the extras. Gensians came back and two Chandler penalties (4th and 18th minutes)
brought the score to 7-6. |
| However, Redingensians lock Warren Milne was then penalised and given a yellow card and Tweedie
put over another penalty to stretch the lead to four points. Seven minutes later the visitors took the lead for the first
time when a great backs move ended with winger Craig Clements stretching over for the try which put them a point ahead. |
| It was all to play for and it was clear that the next score could be significant. And it came three minutes later.
Reading forced an attacking lineout where they caught and drove. As the drive went forward hooker Paul Fisher pulled off
the maul and drove over powerfully for the try. Just half an hour had gone but in a game of limited opportunities to score
Reading were never headed again. |
Four minutes into the second half Andy Tweedie kicked another penalty. There was still most of the half to go
but scoring opportunities were few as Reading took control up front and kept the ball tight. Chandler landed another penalty
in the 56th minute to put his side within a try of taking the lead. But the Reading team then did a thoroughly professional job
of hanging on to the ball and restricting the visitors’ opportunities of releasing their backs. |
| Alastair McHarg was delighted with his team after the game. “It was crystal clear today that you wanted it.
You won the local bragging rights. You played with passion and deserved to win.” To their credit Redingensians’ large travelling
support agreed with this sentiment but are looking forward to settling things when the clubs meet again on December 15th. That is
what local derbies are about. |
| READING: Alex Blackstock; Simon Dyson, Alex Wallace (capt), Andy Tweedie, Duncan Mollison (Dai Birkby, 37 mins);
Billy Bragg, Tom Goodhew; Richard Pryor (Axel Rees70 mins), Paul Fisher, Andrew Grierson, Gary McCloughlin, Sean Kenneally, Dan Phillips,
Matt davies, Scott Heirene |
| Scoring sequence: 1 min Mollison try, Tweedie con (7-0), 4 mins Chandler pen (7-3), 18 mins Chandler pen (7-6),
20 mins Tweedie pen (10-6), 27 mins Clements try (10-11), 30 mins Fisher try (15-11), 44 mins Tweedie pen (18-11), 56 mins
Chandler pen (18-14). |