| Three tries for the visitors in a seven minute spell before and after half
time put them firmly in the driving seat and snatched away what had looked to be a game
there for the taking for Reading. The Sonning Lane side had completely dominated the early
proceedings with the forwards providing plentiful clean ball and the backs looking
dangerous. Yet all Reading had to show for 25 minutes of intense pressure was a dropped
goal from fly half Billy Bragg and a missed penalty in front of the posts from Alex
Wallace. |
| Bournemouth had hardly seen the ball, let alone attacked the Reading line
but they defended resolutely and took their chances when they came. On the half hour
winger James Flynn kicked a penalty. Five minutes later scrum half Sam Hardcastle got
away on the blind side for a try which Flynn converted. Their next try followed five
minutes later as a good move put winger Joe Frost over and one minute into the second
half Hardcastle ran straight through the Reading lineout to score. |
|
From being in a dominant position Reading were now 20-3 down and in trouble. To their
credit they did come back and lock Sean Kenneally took advantage of some poor Bournemouth
lineout work near their own line to snatch the ball and touch down, Wallace converting. |
| Reading were back in with a chance but a minute later hooker Paul Fisher
was yellow carded for blocking Hardcastle at a tap penalty and Bournemouth took
advantage of that ten minutes by scoring two more tries – one by the impressive centre
Tim Gray and the other from flanker Chris Hughes from a lineout catch and drive. Flynn
converted both and did so again after Hardcastle completed his hat-trick in the 70th
minute. |
| It had all looked so different in the first half hour. On the back of
improved form and results before Christmas Reading started confidently. Gary McLaughlin
and Al Blewitt provided good lineout ball, the scrummaging was good and the backs looked
dangerous. Peceli Nacamavoto made some strong runs and Alex Wallace, coming into the line
from full back, made some great breaks. However, he lacked support and when he chipped
the ball into space itl didn’t run kindly for him. |
| However, solid Bournemouth defence kept Reading down to just three points
and the Reading storm died out. They began to lose turnover ball which the visitors
ran back at them with confidence. An injury after 20 minutes to Gary McLaughlin meant
that he had to be replaced earlier than expected by Kenneally, who had got off his
sick-bed to sit on the subs bench. The Bournemouth backs concentrated their attention
on Nacamavuto, blocking his runs and preventing him linking with his colleagues. |
| Increasingly Reading ran out of ideas as the pack tired and possession
became more ragged. As the game went on the visitors looked like they wanted it more
and they emerged comfortable winners. |
| >b>READING: Alex Wallace; Alex Blackstock (Nick Brooks, 58 mins), Peceli
Nacamavuto, Andy Evans, Tan Ratu; Billy Bragg, Tom Goodhew; Richard Pryor, Paul Fisher,
Andrew Grierson, Gary McLaughlin (Sean Kenneally, 20 mins), Al Blewitt, Scott Heirene,
Matt Davies, Ledua Lope (Axel Rees, 63-69 mins). |
| Match facts: 7 mins Bragg drop (3-0), 29 mins Flynn pen (3-3),
34 mins Hardcastle try, Flynn pen (3-10), 39 mins Frost try (3-15), 41 mins Hardcastle
try (3-20), 57 mins Kenneally try, Wallace con (10-20), 61 mins Gray try, Flynn con
(10-27), 66 mins Hughes try, Flynn con (10-34), 70 mins Hardcastle try,
Flynn con (10-41) |
| Reading scores: Bragg (drop goal), Kenneally try, Wallace con |
| Ted Goodhew
|