| Prop Andrew Grierson played his 150th game for Reading, helping them gain
their third win out of the last four games to strengthen their hopes of escaping
relegation from South West One. |
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| There is no doubt that some good recruiting has helped to turn things
round. Centre Kam Vaudreu has returned from service overseas and scored a great try
and new boy Ledua Jope scored the other from Number 8. Andy Tweedie, who has been
with Reading for some years but who was brought in to boost the goal kicking, kicked
eight important points. Ben Hughes made a huge contribution in the second row and,
with Al Blewitt and Jope, was particularly evident with some driving runs. |
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| This was, indeed the basis of the win. Troubled in the scrums in the
first half, Reading had Jope to tidy up and secure possession. The lineout work was
impeccable, bringing one try from a catch and drive and almost bringing two others.
And forward drives in the loose won a lot of hard yards.
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| As a delighted Alastair McHarg told his team after the game, “There were some
outstanding performances but we could have won by 30 points. We took our foot off the
gas in the second half. Nevertheless, we came for the win and we got it.” |
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| It was a game that nearly ended in a disappointing draw. Early in the second half
Reading were 18-3 in the lead and looking comfortable. Control of the ball was all
that was needed but some mistakes crept into Reading’s play and the home side,
always ready to run the ball, began to look dangerous. In the 55th minute a break
by Number 8 Cooper led to a try for scrum half Liggett, converted by Rory Baker,
who had earlier kicked a penalty. |
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| Reading came back from that and came close to scoring again before more
good play from the home side set up a 72nd minute try for flanker Ballinger, which
went unconverted. 18-3 had now become 18-15. Reading were again just held up at an
attacking line-out before the home side came back with a barnstorming finish. For
the second week running Reading had to defend like demons to hold on. Inevitably,
they gave away penalties and in stoppage time Baker had the chance to bring the
scores level with a fairly easy penalty. |
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| Fortunately for Reading he pulled the kick wide, the referee blew his whistle and
the visitors got the win their performance deserved. |
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| Earlier, Tweedie’s two penalties to Baker’s one had given the visitors a narrow lead
before they scored the try of the match in the 23rd minute. From a scrum on the
Reading five metre line Jope and Blewitt combined to open up the home defence.
Then the Fijians, Vaudreu and Nacamavuto got in on the act, combining well with
each other before Vaudreu raced over for the try, converted by Tweedie. Jope’s
49th minute try seemed to have settled the match but the home side had other
ideas and the match remained in the balance until the very last kick. |
| READING: Alex Wallace (capt); Alex Blackstock, Peceli Nacamavuto (Tom Goodhew, 11-15 mins, blood injury),
Kam Vaudreu, Tan Ratu; Billy Bragg, Andrew Tweedie; Axel Rees, Paul Fisher, Andrew Grierson, Ben Hughes, Sean Kenneally,
Al Blewitt, Dan Phillips (Matt Dwyer, 63 mins), Ledua Jope. Sub not used: Adam Broster |
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| Match facts: 5 mins Tweedie pen (0-3), 7 mins Baker pen (3-3), 8 mins Tweedie pen (3-6), 25 mins Vaudreu try, Tweedie con (3-13), 49 mins Jope try (3-18), 56 mins Liggett try, Baker con (10-18), 62 mins Ballinger try (15-18). |
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| Ted Goodhew |