HAVING secured the Championship South West Two title last week in Plymouth, Reading Abbey Nuns marched closer to an unbeaten season with a 47-14 derby win against rivals Newbury.

Nuns started well as skipper Annette Bevan, playing her 50th league game for the Nuns, and Alice Denton both crossed twice, the latter also successful with all conversions.

Newbury replied with Becky Wilson touching down, but it was the Nuns who had the final say of the half as Jess Williams finished a fine move in the corner.

Bevan went on to finish with four tries, but Williams blotted her copybook by seeing red and with Hayley Matthews also sin-binned, Newbury grabbed a second score late on through Emma Swinton.

Delighted Nuns head coach, Lewis Jones, said, “I’m really pleased and proud of the whole squad for their efforts this season. They have worked so hard both on and off the pitch; they are a credit to the club and the club should be extremely proud of them too.”

READING Abbey men put in a hugely spirited effort to secure a losing bonus-point in a 14-8 defeat at Southern Counties North champions elect Witney.

The visitors took a deserved lead in the seventh minute when centre Brad Thomas crossed the whitewash, but Witney went into the interval in front as Callum Godfrey dotted down right at the end of the opening stanza.

A Thomas penalty put Abbey back in front in the second half, but a brilliant individual try from Rhys Morgan ensured Witney recorded their 16th win from 17 games this season.

Reading Abbey remain third-bottom, but are now 12 points clear of the bottom two ahead of their home game with Aylesbury on Saturday (2.15pm).