Reading 37 Trowbridge 8

Trowbridge kicked off what had been billed as a must win game for both sides having had to find three replacements as late as the morning of the fixture due to selected players making themselves unavailable, and it was after only five minutes play the home side broke through to send left wing Chris Crieg in to score from forty metres Matt Smart was unable to add the conversion (5-0) Trowbridge fought their way back into the Reading twenty two and were awarded a penalty Tom Weaver was successful with the kick (5-3), from the restart the visitors looked under pressure going further behind from two more Matt Smart penalties (11-3) Tom Weaver did attempt a long range penalty that went just wide of the posts only for Chris Crieg to get through a poor defence to score his second try again the conversion was missed (16-3) but the best try of the first half came from Trowbridge youngster Gareth Davis going over out wide with a spectacular forward role before touching down, the conversion was missed to end the half sixteen – eight to Reading (16-8).

The home side now sensing a victory started the second half at pace forcing Trowbridge to defend and it was not long before their right wing Ben Mitchell rounded the visitors backs to score under the posts giving Matt Smart an easy conversion (23-8), the next Reading score came from their hooker Alex Wilson when Trowbridge were caught off side only five metres out from their own line, the home pack forcing the Trowbridge forwards backwards Wilson being credited with the touch down Matt Smart was again successful with the conversion (30-8), the final score of the game came from a Reading cross kick that was for Reading left wing Chris Crieg but the bounce of the ball defeated both Crieg and Trowbridge right wing Ieuan Turner only to bounce into the hands of the Reading centre Dan Witko who touched down under the posts Matt Smart adding the extra two points to end the game thirty seven – eight (37-8).

Credit to the players that filled in last minute and made the journey to Reading, in particular Roy Hewitt who gets a special mention for
his graft and putting in a great shift.