READING RFC’s acting coach Paul Boulard was unable to rustle up a South West One East win at mid-table Royal Wootton Bassett, but the visitors were fully competitive right to the end and got less than they deserved in a 19-10 defeat.

At the end of the day the home team managed to construct three tries from line-out moves near the Reading line while also preventing their opponents doing the same.

Reading’s two scores came more from individual brilliance rather than from building pressure patiently. The first, from Charlie Davies, came after he had charged down scrum half Tom Field’s attempted clearance and beat all opponents to the ball over the try line.

The other came from free-scoring wing Chris Greig, who collected a loose ball and raced away to score an opportunist try.

In between Reading also had other opportunities to score as some straightforward penalty chances were ignored for kicks for line-outs. One of those kicks did not even reach touch – an example of the kind of basic mistakes which are holding them back.

On the credit side was the greater tactical mix in Reading’s play, particularly the use of the box kick from scrum half, where Ray Mead had a good game.

Alex Murray-Smith, normally a full back, had a useful game playing out of position at fly half, Alex Dorliac played a stormer in the centre, aided and abetted by Dan Witko, Peter Czernuszka made some penetrating runs while James Mitchell came close to scoring after a great second half run, only for a desperate tap tackle taking him down.

The home team opened the scoring with their first line-out catch and drive after 24 minutes, only for Reading to respond just before half time with Davies’ try.

The crucial scores for the home side came in a three-minute spell in the second half.

First their hooker, Simon Anderton, was driven over and then scrum half Tom Field sneaked over from another.

Reading can feel aggrieved because in the build up to the try the referee missed a straightforward off-side as a Bassett player ran into his own man, thus preventing the Reading defence from dealing with him.

Greig’s try came in the 57th minute, but as it happened that was the end of the scoring.

Reading – who are 20 points from safety – host Reading Abbey in their previously postponed clash on Saturday.