READING RFC made it back-to-back wins in Southern Counties North with a convincing 31-3 away victory at struggling Littlemore.

The game was played in wretched weather, but that did not prevent Reading from showing their superiority and securing a bonus point against a Littlemore side still searching for their first win of the season.

Nevertheless, the hosts with plenty of spirit and skill, but they got little change out of Reading’s well-drilled defence, despite taking the lead with an early penalty which would be their only points of the game.

Reading’s response was to keep the ball close, passes short and to drive hard with Rob Cunningham and Ryan Smith leading the way.

Centres Alex Dorliac and George Dear were prominent and some powerful runs saw each scored a try in the first half which ended with Reading leading 14-3, scrum half Nick Burch having converted both.

The worsening conditions failed to prevent Reading from dominating the second half.

Burch scored an opportunist try from a scrum 30 yards out, substitute Charlie Davies followed that with another and full back Tom West celebrated his debut with the final touchdown. Goal kicking was not easy in the conditions but Burch kicked his third conversion to finish the scoring.

The result means Reading have won successive matches for the first time this season following a 38-30 home victory against High Wycombe a week earlier and they are now out of the bottom two.

They have also been buoyed by fresh talent in the shape of prop Dan Gyles, back-row Ed Dixon plus Burch, Dear and West plus the return from injury of Rob Cunningham and Charlie Davies.

Reading return to action on January 5 with a tough challenge against leaders Windsor.

Reading: West, Proctor-Searle, Dorliac, Dear, Howard, Murray-Smith, Burch, Pallett, King, Gyles, Parr, Smith, Koefman, Dixon, Cunningham. Subs: Nicol, Davies, Janin.