Fijian winger set for Holme debut

Published 23 Feb 2010 12:00 0 Comments

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Reading

READING are set to give Fijian winger Gus Quasavacatini a debut as they look to reverse a trend of 10 straight defeats in National Three South West.

Unless they find a quick change of form the Green Machine now look almost certain to finish in the bottom three following last week's narrow defeat against fellow strugglers Weston-super-Mare.

Depending on results in National Three London, third bottom could still be enough to see them avoid relegation.

However with Chippenham just four points behind them, the Holme Park club desperately need to chalk up a few more wins to avoid dropping into the bottom two, which would see them definitely drop back down to South West One East.

But things will not be easy this Saturday (2.30pm) at home to a Bournemouth side who won 71-0 in their last outing against Maidenhead.

The south coast side also cruised to a 37-8 win when Reading travelled there in September, but one glint of hope for the Green Machine is that Bournemouth have not always travelled well this season.

Only three of their 11 league wins this campaign have come on the road and they struggled past rock-bottom Maidenhead by seven points on their last trip to Berkshire.

Quasavacatini comes into the back three for the clash, while regular fly half Tom Goodhew comes in at a scrum half.

There are doubts over the fitness of centre Oliver Smith and hooker Steve King. This could see flanker Jon Cranton move from the back to the front row.

Probable team: Harvey, King, Grierson; Davies, Uluikede; Cranton, Phillips ;Heirene; Goodhew, Brown;Bakoso,Smith, Matau, Quasavacatini; Dorliac. Subs: Speight, Laverye, Lynch.

* READING went down to a 10th successive defeat in what was a must win game against fellow-strugglers Weston-super-Mare last Saturday.

The boot of Shaun Brown kept Reading in the game for the first hour as he kicked the Green Machine into a 12-10 lead.

However a penalty and two late tries won the game for Weston 25-22, despite Reading skipper Dan Phillips and Sean Lynch also crossing late on.

READING: Dorliac, Bakoso, Smith (Lynch), Matau, Speight; Brown, Lester; Harvey, King, Grierson, Davies, Uluikede (Laverye), Phillips, Cranton (Cavuilati), Heirene.

ABBEY

A DETERMINED Abbey take the trip to mid-table Walcot plotting for the win to ease relegation concerns.

After last week's sparkling display from hat trick try scorer Gavin Dampies, self belief has gone up several notches.

A win over Bath based Walcot would give them their first double of the season. Back in September at Rosehill a strong second half performance and a late try from Dave Anfield provided a 16-11 win.

Walcot are on a three match winning streak, following last week's 15-10 win over Oakmedians building on wins over Marlow and Wotton Bassett.

But Abbey skipper Tom Waterhouse argues his side is in just as good a run of form. He said: "If you want statistics, we've won three from the lastfour, or over a longer run winning six from eight, and that includes run-away leaders Cheltenham.

"If it comes down to a test of character, we shan't be lacking."

Coach Adam Hurst is unavailable for the trip, so Jim Dye will move into no 10, with Dave Anfield slotting back into the centres.

* ABBEY skipper Tom Waterhouse reports that centre Stephen Gaines is recovering well after breaking his ankle six weeks ago.

He said: "He has some pins being taken out this week, and we send him our best wishes.

"It would be great to have him back, but it's going to take time."

* A SPARKLING performance from winger Gavin Dampies kept alive Abbey's plans to avoid the drop.

In a nine try thriller he scored a hat trick to help the Rosehill side win 38-22.

Dampies started the scoring with a brilliant 50-metre run, while Steve Drake kicked Abbey into a 10-0 lead.

Salisbury hit back with two tries, but amazingly while Abbey were down to 13 men with two players in the bin, Dampies ran in two more tries to give them a 23-17 lead at the break.

Salisbury narrowed to within a point after the break, but two further tries from Jim Dye and Adam Hurst sealed the win.

ABBEY: Waite, Woolnough, Gupta, Pawlett, Allison, Fungai, Davies, Williams, Heath, Hurst, Waterhouse, Cole, Dye, Dampies, Drake. Subs : Charlton, Brooks, Anfield.

GENSIANS

JEVON Marsh returns from a short stay at Newbury to assist Redingensians in a double mission this weekend.

The Sonning men seek to complete their third National 3 South West double on Saturday (2.30pm) when Barnstaple are the visitors.

Then the following day they entertain Bracknell in the Berks Cup semi-final hoping to avenge defeat in last year's decider.

Marsh, a talented centre or full back, left the Old Bath Road last summer to try his luck at National 1 Newbury, but was plagued by injury.

He is named at full-back in Sunday's squad against Bracknell as Gensians field strong sides for each encounter.

Coach Alun Rise said: "Both games are important. We are looking for at least a fourth or fifth place in the league and a piece of silverware would be nice."

Both Barnstaple and Bracknell will be in confident mood after last weekend's results. The Devon men trimmed second-placed Old Patesians 21-20 while the Lily Hill Park club, third in National 3 London & South East, thrashed Havant 67-0.

For the Barnstaple encounter tight-head Matt Tainton makes his first senior appearance of the campaign while Simon Parfitt resumes in the back row.

Andy Tweedie, a capable place-kicker, also makes his seasonal bow on the wing and is likely to play at No 10 in the local bragging rights match against Bracknell.

* JAMES Watkins grabbed a disputed late winner to get Gensians out of jail in this National 3 South West clash versus Coney Hill.

Gensians had surrendered a 14-0 lead - the Gloucester side storming back with three touchdowns in a blistering six minute spell.

The visitors were incensed when referee Friend allowed Watkins' vital score after he peeled off from a maul following a lineout and raced 30 yards to score.

They had failed to contest the maul - a dangerous ploy with the game in the balance - and claimed Gensians should have been penalised.

Gensians coach Alun Rise confessed: "We didn't perform a patch on last week when we lost at Taunton. Our discipline was poor. There was too much back-chat. We gave the ball away too easily.

"Also we wasted chances to make the game secure but the plus side is that after nearly throwing the game away, we dug in and won."

New signing Aaron Hopkins, making his home debut, put Gensians in front after 17 minutes. He sliced through the home defence from a set scrum for Peter Freeth to add the extras.

Gensians squandered opportunities to build on their slender advantage in a turgid, mistake strewn half.

The game only came alight on the hour when a strike against the head and a pick up by Watkins set up a touchdown for Jez Flynn.

Coney Hill refused to give in and hit back as Gensians' scrum under increasing pressure in the absence of injured tight head Jamie Baker.

Gensians lost concentration and were punished by tries from Jay Flinter, Danny Davis and Jamie Cole plus a Rory Baker conversion put the Hill 17-14 up with seven minutes to go. Then Watkins struck with the dramatic winner with a minute of regular time left.

Number eight Rob Stapley caught the eye with some good work, while new boy Hopkins looks a very useful capture.

Another bonus was the place kicking of Freeth, who landed a superb touchline conversion of Watkins' try.

Gensians: Allen, Swadling, Freeth, Reynolds, Clements; Hopkins, Flynn (Matthews); Saunders, Dewland, Clare; G Davies (S Hallett), Root, Hulland, Watkins, Stapley. Sub not used: Russell.

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