Published: Wednesday, 19th November, 2008 10:00
Reading power past Bletchley
By Nigel Sutcliffe
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Bletchley 0, Reading 57
A SEVEN try second half blitz saw Reading top 50 points for the fourth time this season.
This latest success for the South West 2 East leaders was a typical performance – a scrappy first half in which the opposition is worn down followed by a try bonanza in the closing stages.
At half time the score was 8-0 and if Bletchley fly half Philip Harman had kicked his penalties Reading would have been behind.
But the powerful scrummaging of Andrew Grierson, Paul Fisher and Richard Pryor left its mark and the home side saw little ball from this phase in the second half.
Reading opened the scoring when fly half Tom Goodhew kicked a sixth minute penalty but after that they repeatedly squandered good positions – either being penalised or losing control of the ball.
During a 15 minute spell Harman put two penalties wide, hit the post with another and missed an attempted drop on goal.
For their part Reading drove their opponents back so quickly at a five metre scrum that they lost control of their own ball.
Just before half time a try came at last when good inter-passing between Goodhew and James Balfry ended with the former touching down.
Although Reading were frustrated at half time, boss Jason Dance’s team talk ensured that there was no panic and within two minutes of the second half they were on the board again.
A backs move involving Goodhew, Seru Niubasaga and Balfry resulted in the latter going over. Balfry converted his own try and Reading were on their way.
Seven minutes later a five metre scrum drive was controlled and No 8 Scott Heirene touched down.
Scrum half Kam Vaudreu scored after another scrum drive and this was followed by a fine try as Alex Blackstock made a great long run out of defence and linked with the supporting winger Sean Lynch who crossed. Balfry converted all three tries and Reading were
sailing at 36-0.
Three more tries in the last five minutes added a gloss to Reading’s performance while being a poor return for the valiant efforts of the home side.
Craig Marshmen intercepted as the Bletchley backs tried to move the ball and touched down under the posts. Then another crisp backs move with Lynch crossing from his wing, set up the speedy Blackstock.
Finally Vaudreu scored his second try from a five metre scrum and Balfry landed the conversions.
Reading: Balfry; Czernuska, Marshman, Niubasaga, Lynch; Goodhew (Blackstock), Vaudreu; Pryor, Fisher, Grierson (Bellingham), Hughes, Uluikede, Davies, Cornish, Hierene (Laverye).
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