READING Raiders Rugby League Club put Sussex Merlins to the sword on the club’s first ever home competitive game on Saturday.

The Raiders were indebted to prop Ed House’s late try as they scraped past the Merlins 36-30 in a nail-biting encounter at Berkshire County Sports Club in Sonning.

The win ensured Reading maintained their 100-per-cent home record having beaten Swindon St George A in the second leg of the Kennet Cup competition last year, and was the club’s first victory in the London & South East Championship.

Chairman, Andrew Belt, said: “It was a fantastic day for the club and I am incredibly proud of all 18 players who put their bodies on the line to ground out the win.

“I hope this will be the springboard for a few more victories this season and I’m looking forward to seeing the squad develop over the course of our first season in the London & South East’s second tier.”

Wing Tom Sullivan grabbed the club’s first competitive try at home, using clever footwork to evade the challenges of a few Sussex defenders before scoring near the posts.

Sussex hit back, but Reading regained the lead when debutant Ben Mitchell scored on the wing. The Merlins replied once more but influential scrum-half John Boucher soon had the Raiders back in front before Jake Parker added another.

Sussex got themselves back in the reckoning with a try just before the interval and started the second half strongly.

Stand-off Alex Dorliac wrestled his way over the line and Parker scored his second of the game in between three Merlins tries, setting up a nervy finish before House supplied the winning contribution and Boucher nudged over his fourth conversion of the game to seal a historic triumph for the Raiders.

The win followed Reading’s 36-20 defeat to London Chargers A in the club’s first ever competitive game.

The two clubs lock horns again on June 3, in Raiders’ next game as the club aims to preserve their perfect home record.