SOUTH West One East basement dwellers Reading were left to rue a Grove comeback as they slipped to a 26-21 defeat at Holme Park.

The game started with the visitors running the ball at every opportunity and looking dangerous doing so, scoring a converted try within three minutes of the kick off.

They continued to use the same tactics and looked dangerous but Reading’s Jon Cranton made them pay for their enterprise, intercepting 65 metres out from the line, racing away and then linking with centre Alex Dorliac for the try, converted by scrum half Nick Portch.

Reading then took over as their backs looked dangerous every time they got the ball.

A line-out catch by Charlie Davies, quick ball down the line and a break by full back Matt Hill saw Chris Greig racing over for a fine try, again converted by Portch.

The scrum half then scored a try, benefitting from another break by Hill, backing up well to score under the posts. His conversion gave Reading a 21-7 half-time lead.

The second half saw the visitors rely more on their forwards and the hosts seldom looked like scoring again.

On the hour a Reading scrum five metres from their own line was penalised. Grove chose to have a scrum and although Reading held the pressure much better they could not prevent the scrum half driving over under the posts. The conversion reduced the lead to seven points.

Ten minutes later the scores were level as Reading fought their way back to half way, but a dropped pass gifted Grove a scrum from which a long kick was not dealt with adequately and another try was scored. The conversion levelled the scores. Then, with minutes to go, a forward drive ended with the winning try for the visitors.

It was a disappointing result for a Reading side who deserved rather better and by no means looked a bottom-of-the-table side.

New Reading Director of Rugby, Andy Arter, will be pleased by the many positive aspects in this performance, particularly the strong running in the backs and the lively back row performance of Jon Cranton, Peter Czernuszka and Charlie Davies.

Reading visit leaders Maidenhead on Saturday (3pm).

  • BERKSHIRE Shire Hall return to BB&O Championship action when they travel to fifth-placed Harwell – the side one position below them – on Saturday.