READING produced their best display of the Southern Counties North season to overcome previously unbeaten league leaders Wallingford 10-0 at Holme Park.

The hosts, who played the first half into a stiff breeze, started well with impressive line speed in defence and some strong runs by No. 8 Adam Veale.

The ferocity of the start seemed to surprise their high-flying opponents and Reading took a deserved lead after eight minutes when following a series of attacks Wallingford were penalised.

Reading opted to go for the corner and drove the resulting line-out up to the line for Rob Cunningham to break off and score an unconverted try.

The home side continued to keep Wallingford pinned down with Charlie Davies, in his first full game after injury, particularly prominent.

Such was Reading’s control that despite the strong wind it took Wallingford 25 minutes before they established any type of position in Reading’s half.

The hosts came under a lot of pressure in the last 15 minutes of the half, but some fierce tackling kept Wallingford out at cost only of a yellow card for Josh Pallett for an infringement at a ruck on the line.

Reading used the wind intelligently in the second half to pin their opponents down and their pressure was rewarded after 55 minutes with a try that was almost a repeat of the first.

Grant Spears won a penalty which was kicked to touch near the line, and from the line-out Davies burst through to within inches of the line before Steve King continued the drive to burrow under the Wallingford defence to score an unconverted try.

The last 20 minutes saw Reading keep Wallingford pinned in their half through Dan Witko’s accurate kicking and the intensity of their pressure when Wallingford were in possession.

Despite several opportunities though, they were unable to strike any more blows due to a plucky Wallingford scrambling defence and final passes just going astray. However, they comfortably held out for a well-deserved victory.

On a day that was more for the forwards Davies, Ryan Smith and Cunningham all made their presence felt with their strong running and close quarter defensive work, while Veale was also impressive until his withdrawal at half-time.

The backs also did their bit with some strong runs from Alex Dorliac and Chris Greig and good defensive work from full back Luke Burns, who produced a couple of good tackles on the rare occasions Wallingford broke the line.

It was a game in which it was difficult to single out individual players as it was an excellent team performance.

Reading travel to Aylesbury on Saturday.

BERKSHIRE Shire Hall – who visit Farnham Royal on Saturday – shocked Faringdon 45-8 at Sonning Lane.