READING RFC came very close to beating sixth-placed Witney on their own ground before ultimately losing 16-15 in a South West One East thriller.

Both sides scored two tries and with 15 minutes to go Reading led by two points.

They were then penalised for a high tackle wide out and around 45 yards from the posts. It seemed a long shot when Witney fly half Henry Lamb went for goal but the ball sailed between the posts, and Reading could not come back.

With Rob Sweeney directing things well from fly half, this was a much-improved Reading performance from the week before at Oxford Harlequins.

Nevertheless, the loss leaves them firmly attached to the foot of the table and after the game coach Paul Gaster tended his resignation, a sad end to four-and-a-half years at the club.

Despite Reading’s spirit, endeavour and good play, mistakes led to the two Witney tries.

The first came after a scrum in Reading’s 22. Scrum half Ray Mead had a good match overall but his pass back hit the floor just in front of Sweeney who can be forgiven for knocking on, giving Witney the five-metre scrum from which they scored their push-over try.

The home side’s second try came from No. 8 Deaglan Bayliss from a line-out five metres out, driving through some weak tackling to touch down.

It was Reading who scored the first try, in the 20th minute, after Lamb and Sweeney had exchanged penalties. From a line-out 10 metres out Reading spread the ball patiently left and right and after eight phases managed to free wing Chris Greig who crashed over wide out. Reading held the lead, 8-3, until shortly before half time when Bayliss’ score brought the scores level.

Early in the second half Reading scored the best try of the game. From the kick off Witney mounted an attack into the Reading 22.

However, Sweeney won a turn-over and Reading full back James Mitchell made a 40-yard burst through the Witney lines. Good follow up play by the outstanding Charlie Davies and a long pass from Stuart Borthwick gave wing Peter Czernuzska a sniff of the line.

He still had work to do but his powerful and determined run shook off would-be tacklers as he made the line for the try.

With most of the second half still to go, Reading were unable to add to their score and the home side gradually got on top and came back with a second try through Lamb and his heart-breaking penalty.