READING Abbey leapfrogged Slough into sixth place in the Southern Counties North table after an exhilarating 37-23 come-from-behind victory on Saturday.

It was the home side who dominated the opening exchanges, and in the eighth minute, scrum-half Tom Young burst through the Abbey defence before releasing hooker Colby Short to storm away to score a try close to the posts. Skipper Max Miles added the simple conversion, and then landed a penalty as Abbey’s ill-discipline led to them falling 10-0 behind.

The visitors missed a chance to cut the gap when Olly Walton struck the post with an attempted penalty, but they then grabbed their first try of the day when a superb forward drive resulted in prop Russ Orrburns dotting down.

While Walton was unsuccessful with the conversion attempt, Abbey levelled matters shortly after courtesy of an excellent team try which was finished off by Jules Greenaway, the full back collecting a pass from John Malivore before touching down.

With momentum on their side, the visitors dominated the closing stages of the first half and went into the break with a 17-10 advantage after a superb individual try from Malivore.

The wing collected his own kick ahead before scorching under the posts, and Walton finally landed a kick to put Luke Harding’s men in the ascendancy.

A Miles penalty cut the gap five minutes into the second half, only for Walton to reply in kind before Miles then added another to make it 20-16.

However, Abbey wing Alex Langford-Pollard then scored a brilliant try, surging 40 metres to bag the bonus-point for the visitors and put them 25-13 in front.

The away side sealed the game when Greenaway added his second try – converted by Walton – and Ed House scored his side’s sixth, making it 37-16 before Slough grabbed a late consolation through Ben Miles.

Reading Abbey face a tough test this coming Saturday when they welcome third-placed Stow-on-the-Wold to Rosehill.