READING Raiders beat Somerset Vikings 40-32 in a cracker at Berkshire County Sports on Saturday.

The hosts started in enterprising fashion with solid approach work in the second minute, allowing Simon Kalafusz to dive over for a try on his return from his Hungarian international debut.

Captain John Boucher converted to make the score 6-0 to the home side.

Looking to dominate possession, Reading moved forward again towards the Somerset line and were close with two chances, one from a penetrating high kick.

Yet Somerset were beginning to put their game together and used both their two gigantic forwards to make ground.

A slick passing move and an unmarked left wing was able to score a punishingly straightforward converted try in the corner, and they crossed twice more to move 16-6 up.

Raiders hit back when a quickly-worked passing movement sent right wing Chris Provost in at the corner, converted with a glorious kick by Boucher.

On the stroke of half time, Boucher took advantage of scrappy cover near the line to go in for the important try which, with his own conversion, brought the half-time score to 18-16 in Reading’s favour.

As the second half unfolded, Raiders were faced with a powerful Somerset onslaught.

A quick burst, again with a hefty forward supporting amongst the three-quarters, resulted in a converted try and Somerset were back in the lead 22-18.

At this point, the strong running of Kerry O’Sullivan, Brad Walters and Dave Abbott began to click from Lewis Chick’s fine distribution and a precision kick to the corner was perfectly placed for Provost to catch and score on the spot, which, with the Boucher conversion, made it 24-22.

A further Walters break resulted in him scoring under the posts, the conversion being added by Boucher to bring the gap to 30-22 in Reading’s favour.

With time still on the clock, Somerset came back with a vengeance, taking play to the far end of the field and scoring. Their conversion cut the gap to two points.

Raiders’ final try, under the posts from a scramble by Walters, resulted in an additional penalty for interference and an eight-point try, with Boucher registering both kicks.

In the last few anxious minutes as Somerset’s indiscipline grew, Raiders were awarded a penalty in front of the posts, ably slotted over by Boucher, to make the final score 40-32 to take them top of the Super 5s play-offs table in the West of England League.

Reading visit Gloucestershire All Golds on Saturday.