READING RFC's good spell continued into the new year as they avenged their early-season Southern Counties North defeat at Shipston on Stour with a six-try bonus-point 36-14 win for a perfect start to the new year.
The points gained put them third in the table, just one point off second.
It was the visitors, however, who made the better start, dominating the opening minutes and scoring a converted try after just five minutes.
Reading settled after this and fly-half Alex Murray-Smith’s well-struck penalty gave them good position in Shipston’s 22. A knock-on gave Shipston a scrum which Reading took and the move led to Murray-Smith scoring a try.
Shipston’s backs looked dangerous, but Reading took several of their opponent’s line-outs and put them under pressure in the scrums.
As the game went on this power up front was to prove decisive and it was a well-deserved try when debutant centre Ed Neeves finished off a fluent backs move which included a penetrating run from scrum-half Callum Cload.
Reading were now on top and moving the ball with confidence, but were caught out with an interception within the Shipston 22 which saw their wing race away for a converted score.
So despite their good play Reading were behind again. There was a time when heads might have gone down, but they now have more confidence in their attacking skills and 10 minutes into the second half they took the lead again with a line-out try touched down by Josh Pallett.
From then on it was all Reading and they pulled away with three more tries.
The first was scored by flanker Fraser Koefman, who finished off some good driving forward play in fine style.
After Reading escaped from a defensive position by stealing the Shipston line-out, a good run by Koefman helped set-up the opening for wing Chris Greig to touch down. Dorliac’s conversion opened up a 15-point lead.
Greig looked like he might score another, but was just caught in time and it was the deserving Stuart Borthwick who scored the final try with a determined run for the line.
Dorliac’s conversion finished off the scoring and yet another fine win for a side brimming with confidence.
Head Coach Ben Wills was in congratulatory move after the game, while acknowledging there is still room for improvement.
He said: “Shipston couldn’t cope with our intensity and we left two or three tries out there. We gifted them their second try, but came back well and there are lots of positives to work on.”
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