Published: Wednesday, 12th November, 2008 10:00
Goodhew stars in Reading win
By Nigel Sutcliffe
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Reading 60, Salisbury 19
STAND-IN fly-half Tom Goodhew kicked 20 points as Reading kept their 100 per cent record in South West Two East - and boosted their points difference.
Jason Dance, the delighted Reading director of rugby, said: “I’m as excited as I was after the Maidenhead win. This match could have been a banana skin. But we dug in at 22-19 and got the job done.”
Dance’s fears of an upset were prompted by the absence of several backs, among them skipper Andy Evans and leading points scorer James Balfry. But up stepped home grown products Goodhew and two-try teenager Peter Czernuska.
For much of the game the contest was very close with the Salisbury backs always threatening. Yet their only touchdown came early in the second half when Reading were down to 13 men after a couple of yellow cardings.
Tim Cronin’s 53rd minute effort meant the visitors were just three points behind at that stage, but Goodhew put over his second penalty to stretch the lead and tries came thick and fast with five in the last 15 minutes - all from the backs.
Not surprisingly Reading’s early scores came from the pack, which soon showed its dominance. Winger Tom Pottage gave the visitors an early lead with a penalty but two minutes later the Reading pack drove Salisbury over at a five metre scrum and Number 8 Scott Heirene touched down.
Then flanker Dan Phillips went over and Goodhew converted both touchdowns. for a 14-3 lead. But Salisbury responded with three Pottage penalties to reduce the deficit to three points.
Skipper for the day Ben Hughes showed his strength and class by driving over from a lineout to give his side a seven point advantage at the break.
Within minutes of the restart Goodhew increased the lead with a penalty, the Salisbury hit back through Cronin before Goodhew’s second three-pointer sparked a burst of late scoring.
First Seru Niabasaga cut inside his man and scored under the posts, debutant Czernuska did well to take a try in the corner under pressure and Vuadreu contributed an interception try, running from deep inside his own half.
Sean Lynch took advantage of some good inter-linking between forwards and backs to touchdown and Czernuska brought up 60 points for second time this campaign with a great run from the half way line.
Reading, another big win under their belts, can travel to mid-table Bletchley in good heart on Saturday.
Reading: Brooks; Lynch, Niabasaga, Marshman, Czernuska; Goodhew, Vuadreu; Rees, Pryor, Grierson (Auld), Hughes (Laverye), Uluikede, Davies (Prince), Phillips, Heirene.
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