| A close fought and compelling South West Division One derby was won in the
78th minute by Reading’s man of the match Peceli Nacamavuto, otherwise known as Naca,
the powerful centre finishing off a flowing move down the right. Skipper Alex Wallace
could not convert from the touchline but the Sonning Lane men held on to take the points.
|
| Surprisingly, the score happened when Reading were down to 14 men, referee
Nick Ashton having dished out his fifth yellow of the afternoon to flanker Matt Davies
just five minutes earlier. In the circumstances Reading had to use their backs, much
improved of late by the recruitment of Naca and Ratu and the return of Andy Evans and
Alex Blackstock, and the tactic worked for them.
|
| Crucially for the home side’s usual fly half, Spike Chandler, was missing
through injury and well as his replacement, Asa Wright, played he missed two important
second half penalties which would have rewarded spells of home pressure. In the
59th minute he was unlucky to hit the post with an attempt which would have brought
the scores level. In the 74th he missed one which would have given his side a lead
they might well have hung on to. |
| When the sides met last month it was Reading’s forwards who dominated and won the game.
This time it was the home side’s forwards who shone. With Andy Grierson missing for
Reading the Gensians front row put in a huge performance to disrupt the Reading
scrums, with prop Chris Rumble earning his side’s man-of-the match award and James Baker
scoring the first try of the match. Chris Horne and Griff Davies also did well on their own line-out
ball. |
| The Gensians’ backs, however, rarely threatened, apart from the expected
sniping runs of Jez Flynn and some powerful bursts from Sam Laskey. The Reading backs,
however, were a constant menace, well served by fly half Billy Bragg’s long passes,
and they were prepared to run from deep. |
| Baker’s 11th minute try followed some flimsy Reading defence and Wright’s fine
conversion put the home side 7-0 up. Reading replied in the 26th minute when Dan Ratu
straightened the line and passed to Andy Evans who put Gary McLoughlin over. Reading
number 8 Scott Heirene was yellow carded for a high tackle and minutes later the home
side took advantage with a pushover try, touched down by Griff Davies. |
| Reading also had prop Axel Rees sin-binned but it was after he had returned and
Gensians’ Sam Laskey was in the bin that Reading scored next, hooker Paul Fisher
reprising a try he often scores, pulling off a maul and powering over. Wallace’s
magnificent conversion brought the scores level (47 minutes). |
| With the home side down to 13 men, following Dan Southern’s yellow card,
Wallace kicked a penalty to put the men in green ahead for the first time. Wright’s
69th minute penalty levelled the scores before Nacamavuto’s try won the game.
|
| READING: Alex Wallace (capt); Alex Blackstock, Peceli Nacamavuto,
Andrew Evans, Dan Ratu; Richard Pryor, Paul Fisher, Alex Rees (Adam Broster, 35-45 mins),
Gary McLoughlin (Al Blewitt, 62 mins), Sean Kenneally, Matt Davies, Dan Phillips,
Scott Heirene. |
| REDINGENSIANS: Jevon Marsh; Craig Clements, Seb Reynolds, Andrew Amor,
Sam Laskey; Asa Wright, Jez Flynn; Chris Rumble, Gareth Rise (Scott Breadmore, h/t),
James Baker, Warren Milne, Chris Horne, Dan Southern (Ben Saunders, 64 mins), Greg Lynch,
Griff Davies. |
| Match facts11 mins Baker try, Wright con (7-0), 26 mins McLoughlin
try (7-5), 33 mins Davies try (12-5), 48 mins Fisher try, Wallace con (12-12),
53 mins Wallace pen (12-15), 69 mins Wright pen (15-15), 78 mins Nacamavuto try (15-20) |
| Reading scores:Tries: McLoughlin, Fisher, Nacavamuto
Con: Wallace (1), pen: Wallace (1) |
| Redingensians scores:Tries: Baker, Davies Con: Wright (1)
Pen: Wright (1) |
| Ted Goodhew |