READING Abbey had to settle for two bonus points after a 34-27 loss at Wallingford in Southern Counties North.

Fungai Mutepfa’s grabbed four tries for a bonus point and got within seven points of Wallingford for another point.

But despite looking threatening through their backs, Abbey struggled up front against the home side’s pack and had three players yellow carded in the second half.

The visitors scored first when scrum-half Diego de Marcilla Bahlsen knocked over a penalty.

Then winger Remi Norville scorched over out wide, with Bahlsen landing a touchline conversion for a 10-0 lead.

Wallingford came storming back and notched their first try through prop Jack Greenway which skipper Phil Dawes failed to convert.

A pulsating start continued when Abbey crossed again, Gavin Dampies collecting Jack Taylor Lambert’s kick before dotting down under the post, with Bahlsen adding the extras.

Wallingford responded when flanker Nathan Chapman went over and, although Dawe missed another conversion, they trailed by seven points.

The lead was cut even further when winger Ralph Smith crossed the line after a strong break by Ian Jeffreys, Dawe missing the extras again.

But Abbey soon widened the gap to 22-15 when Norville went over for a second time, although they were forced to make two changes when Richard King and Charlie Shackleford both went off injured.

Wallingford secured their bonus point at the end of the first half through a brilliant individual score by Jeffreys, with Max Suttner landing the conversion to level the scores.

Abbey lost Charlton to a yellow card early in the second half but the scored remained level until the hour mark when Wallingford notched a fifth touchdown through Champman, Suttner on target again.

Abbey then had Jack Greenaway sinbinned, but they dug deep and scored a bonus-point try when Dampies put Norville away for his third of the day.

Yet Abbey’s hopes of a victory were dented when Ed House was yellow carded and Bahlsen limped off injured, forcing another reshuffle.

Wallingford showed no mercy as Jeffreys grabbed their sixth try before Mark Toland was also yellow carded to leave Abbey with 13 men at the final whistle.

Abbey: Dampies, Norville, Ross, Burns, Shackleford (Greenaway 38, O.Charlton 71), Lambert-Taylor, Bahlsen (G.House 79), O.Charlton (R.King 60), Postlethwaite, R.King (Toland 35), G.House (Beckly 68), Shaw, Beckly (O’Connell 40), E.House, Woodward (c).