READING RFC put their early season woes behind them with a sparkling 39-5 victory in their Southern Counties North clash at home to Slough.

It was a game in which both backs and forwards played well and despite the conditions – which were wet and windy – they played with an accuracy so far missing this season.

Their first-half display in particular rocked Slough and Reading had tied up a four-try bonus-point well before half time.

The Reading line-up was much changed from last week as they gave debuts to Andy Gallagher at full back and Gavin Egan at lock.

They also welcomed back Dan Witko at fly-half and Rob Cunningham at No. 8, back after a 10-month lay-off, and brought in Ben Mitchell on the wing and prop Dan Gyles.

Reading got off to the best of possible starts.

Early pressure from the forwards set up a position near the line and a flat pass to George Dear enabled him to break through the Slough defensive line and cross for a try which Guillaume Janine converted with less than three minutes gone. Reading continued as they started, using Cunningham and Ryan Smith to punch holes in the defensive line and the strong running centre pairing of Alex Dorliac and Dear to capitalise on the space created.

They increased the lead on 10 minutes with a penalty from Gallagher after Janine had missed one from a similar position.

By this time, Slough had given away so many penalties trying to stop Reading advancing they had lost one of their props to a yellow card for the team’s persistent infringing.

Reading took advantage of this when Cunningham caught the kick off and ran it back, breaking the Slough defensive line.

He passed to Smith on halfway, who showed a great turn of pace to score in the corner to give Reading a 15-0 lead.

The hosts kept the pressure up and were rewarded with three tries in the last 15 minutes of the half.

Chris Greig scored in the corner following a break by Witko which still left the winger with plenty to do.

He repeated the trick two minutes later when scrum-half Janine broke on the blind-side and a well-timed pass to Greig gave him the opportunity to cut back to score near the posts. Gallagher added the points.

Then after some good work by the pack, who mauled repeatedly up to the Slough line, Steve King spotted his opportunity and jumped over to score and give Reading a 32-0 half-time lead.

The second half was less intense with Reading remaining mostly in control.

They scored early on after more another fine maul by the pack, Fraser Koefman scoring at the foot of the posts to add Reading’s sixth try. Gallagher added the points for 39-0.

Slough scored a consolation try in the corner after Dorliac had been yellow carded for an off-the-ball incident, but they could not break Reading’s stranglehold as Smith and Cunningham continued to look a danger and some good kicking by Witko kept Slough pinned in their own territory.

The home side were unable to add to their 39 points despite one good run from Greig which was kept out by a last-ditch tackle,

Reading have a week off before travelling to Stow-on-the-Wold on Saturday, October 20.