THREE tries in a 20-minute spell in the second half secured Reading a 38-30 Southern Counties North win at home to High Wycombe after they had gone in at half time a point down.

During this spell, No. 8 Rob Cunningham used the strength of the scrum to drive his way over the line for two tries and centre George Dear raced over in the corner for another after the ball was moved wide.

Scrum-half Nick Burch added the conversions, just as he had for the other two tries scored earlier.

Burch had a fine game, his first at scrum-half for Reading, serving fly-half Alex Murray Smith with good passes off either hand and mixing his game well.

Murray Smith did well too and was unlucky to end the game with a controversial yellow card.

He was penalised for coming in from the wrong side, but he was actually pushed to the ground by a Wycombe player as he was trying to get back.

As play continued there was a Wycombe knock-on and the ball ended in full back Luke Burns’ hands.

As he was walking back towards his posts, from out of the blue the Wycombe No. 8 charged him in the back and this led to a flare-up on the pitch.

When the referee eventually got control again he sent Murray Smith to the sin-bin and awarded Wycombe a penalty.

With both sides scoring five tries each, however, there was much more to the game than the flare-up.

It was the visitors who started the first half the better as fly-half Matt Wardle kicked an early penalty and converted a try within the first 10 minutes.

Reading were soon in the picture, however, as flanker Ed Dixon drove his way through to the line, Burch converting.

Ten minutes later another driven scrum set up flanker Fraser Koefman for his try and a Reading lead, 14-10.

Before half time, however, Wardle touched down and the visitors led 15-14 at the interval.

Cunningham’s first try soon after half time gave Reading the lead.

High Wycombe narrowed this with another Wardle try, but Reading stretched the lead again with Cunningham’s second try and Dear’s effort.

Now 15 points down Wycombe never gave up and Wardle’s third try reduced this to 10 points with 10 minutes remaining.

Reading were not going to crumble, however, and Burch’s 75th-minute penalty extended the lead to ensure a bonus-point victory, despite Tom Bosley’s last minute try for the visitors.

After last week’s disappointing display at Buckingham this game showed a vast improvement.

Skipper Ryan Smith, Cunningham and Dixon spearheaded a strong performance from the pack and there was some good work in the backs with the strong running from Matt Witko and Alex Dorliac in the centre and Burns showing up well at full back.

Coach Ben Wills will be concerned his side conceded five tries and the problems at the line-out, but can delight in the five touch downs scored by his side and in the fact that in Burch he has a reliable kicker at last.

Reading visit winless basement boys Littlemore this Saturday.