Reading Raiders 22-52 Wests Warriors Pounamu, London & South East Championship

Reading went into their final game of the season hoping to maintain their two-year 100% home record against a strong Wests Warriors Pounamu outfit.

The Raiders sat fifth in the London & South East Championship before the game whilst Wests were safely in the play-off positions in third.

Wests went in front early on but Reading hit back through captain, Andy Parr, who charged through the away defence for his first try of the season before scrum-half, John Boucher, scored the first of his three conversions to put the hosts 6-4 ahead.

The Warriors then scored three unanswered tries before Boucher intercepted a Wests pass within his own half and raced all the way down the field to get the Raiders back into the game.

The visitors scored once more to make the score 28-12 at half-time and gave Reading a mountain to climb in the second half.

But the Raiders came back out fired up and Boucher cleverly found a gap through Wests’ defence to go over for his second try of the game. Parr then crashed over from close range during Reading’s best spell of the game and perhaps the club’s best ever 20 minutes of play as the team gelled and appeared set to pull off an improbable comeback with Wests just six points ahead.

Reading’s resolve finally broke with 20 minutes to go as Wests made it 32-22 and the relieved visitors then posted a further 20 points before the end of the game as they punished their wilting hosts.

The result was the Raiders’ first ever home defeat but the players could take heart from a big effort against one of the better sides in the league.

The players’ man of the match went to Andy Parr for his ever-willing running at the heart of the Wests’ defence and relentless tackling throughout, and the club man of the match award was shared between John Boucher, for a superb game in the middle of the park directing the team and spotting gaps to score two, well-taken tries and Mike Beckly for an energetic first ever game playing hooker, with plenty of tackles made and typically strong runs all over the pitch.

Wests go on to visit South London Silverbacks in the play-offs while Reading can be content to have finished fifth out of 14 clubs in the club’s first season in the London & South East Championship.

Team

Callum Man; Matt McLellan, Josh Bull, Nathan Hyde, Ben Mitchell; Alex Fox, John Boucher; Andy Parr ©; Mike Beckly; Ed House, Josh Nichol, Steven King; Dan Neal

Interchanges

Adam Veale, Justin Wheeler, James Jaffal, Eli McMenamin, Will Searle