READING Abbey slumped to a 33-18 South West One East defeat at Swindon as they were sucked back into the relegation scrap.

The home side ran in five tries, while Jules Greenaway and Gavin Dampies crossed for eighth-placed Abbey, who now have just a two-point difference between them and the club in the third relegation slot.

Abbey were the architects of their own misfortune; poor communication in defence at the start, missed penalties, too many handling errors, and a failure to punish Swindon when yellow cards had reduced them to 14 men.

The visitors fatally conceded three tries in the opening 15 minutes, wings Johnny Morrison and Jordan Sheppard, and centre Sam Williams touching down for Swindon with two converted by fly half Adam Westall.

Abbey’s flanker, Tom Huggins, then switched with centre Aaron Ross, and the hole was plugged with no more scores from Swindon that half.

Abbey started to apply pressure as the pack had an impact in the loose with big carries. If the backs’ handling had been more secure, greater reward than the single try grabbed by Greenaway just before the break would have been achieved. Luke Burns (pictured) added the extras to his two earlier penalty goals.

Although Burns did his best in the absence of a regular place kicker, 12 points went begging and the scoreboard showed Abbey trailing 19-13 at the break.

The Rose Hill travelling support remained positive the deficit could be overhauled, especially as the second half started brightly.

Then a sloppy offload allowed Swindon to escape their half and sting the visitors with their fourth bonus point-winning try on the hour; the scorer was prop Guido Suarez, driven over following a five-metre scrum. Westall added the extras.

Abbey continued to fight and their forwards carried the ball well, Chris Shaw, Treacle Knights, Sam Hallett and Dave Cole all making impressive yardage, as did Will Woodward when he made a welcome return to the team.

The backs began to click and attack. Aaron Ross threatened with a strong run, Burns darted forward, but Dampies got the important try with 10 minutes left.

Safer hands would have brought greater reward, but there was still time left, despite the conversion going awry.

Abbey’s passing and support play speeded up, but poor handling let them down.

Then desperate interpassing searching for the gap in the last minutes allowed Morrison to run in beneath the posts with an intercept try, Westall adding the last two points.

Reading Abbey host Windsor, three places beneath them in the league, on Saturday, March 4.