Old boy sinks Green Machine

Sportsdesk • Published 14 Dec 2009 09:00 0 Comments

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Rugby round-up

THERE was a sense of déjà vu at Holme Park on Saturday as former Reading fly-half James Cathcart landed a last minute kick to snatch victory from his old side.

Back in September the Chinnor number 10 slotted over a last-gasp drop goal as his new side snuck a 12-10 win against the Green Machine.

And on Saturday he was at it again. This time his last minute penalty gave Chinnor the edge 22-21 at Holme Park.

Taniela Bakoso scored two tries on the day as Reading came within a whisker of recording their fifth win of the campaign, before ultimately having to settle for a bonus point.

Bakoso's first try and a penalty from Nick Brooks, who stepped into the team to good effect, gave Reading a 8-6 half-time lead.

In the second half Chinnor rumbled over for their only try, while Cathcart and Brooks both made further additions to the score as the visitors stole into a 19-14 lead.

However, Reading rallied and, despite being down to 14 men with Dan Phillips in the bin, the Green Machine got their noses back in front with Bakoso's second try.

Brooks conversion put them 21-19 to the good with 10 minutes to play, but Cathcart ultimately had the final say once again.

On Saturday Reading travel to ninth place Barnstaple, who are unbeaten in their last four league games.

A win for the Green Machine would see them draw level with the Devon outfit in the National Three South West table.

READING: Dorliac, Bakoso, Czernuska, Matau, Mollison (Speight); Brooks, Lester; Auld, Fisher, Grierson, Taylor, Kenneally, Phillips (capt), Cornish, Hughes (Uluikede).

GENSIANS

Gensians coach Alun Rise was relieved to see his injury-hit squad fight back from a nine-point half-time deficit to beat strugglers Chippenham 29-21.

But he admitted it was a far from perfect performance.

He said: "To use the old cliche, this was definitely a match of two halves.

Chippenham did a good job in the contact area in the first half. Then we won some quick ball and it made a big difference.

"We started to get a grip in the set piece but this was an error strewn game. At this level there shouldn't be so many unforced errors."

Man of the match and Gensians skipper Tom Clare led by example, both in defence and attack, with Rob Stapley, James Watkins and James Baker showing up well.

But Gensians were helped in the second when the visitors had a man yellow carded and lost their South African player-coach Hente Martens, three times capped by his country, through injury.

Jez Flynn and Rob Stapley both crossed in the first half for Gensians, with Syd Matthews adding a conversion. But three converted efforts from the Wiltshere side saw them go in 21-12 in front.

Second half scores by Seb Reynolds and Clare and Watkins sealled the win for Gensians.

GENSIANS: Allen (Freeth 59); Clements, Reynolds, Swadling, Flynn: Matthews, Raitt; Saunders, Clare, Baker, C Davies (Hulland 48), S Hallett, Watkins, Hopkins, Stapley. Sub (not used): Russell.

ABBEY

Abbey lacked a killer touch as they were denied a deserved win at Buckingham last Saturday.

The hosts forwards drove over two tries to secure a 21-10 victory, while Abbey had to make do with a Gavin Dampies try and a Steve Drake penalty in a game they dominated for long periods.

Abbey had more possession and more territorial pressure, but could not turn this into points.

This leaves the Emmer Green side in the South West One East relegation zone after 14 games.

However, the two clubs immediatelty above them in the table, Bletchley and Salisbury, also lost - so it's 'as you were' at the bottom of the pile.

ABBEY: Drake, Gaspa-Rebull, Waterhouse (capt), Rees, Dampies, Hurst, Heath, Reddy, Woolnough (Fungai) Mollett, Bryson, Allison, Davies, Williams, Carson (Robinson) Sub: Dye.

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