The home side were fortunate enough to be able to get a game after the recent snowy weather, with most of the league programme cancelled. Excellent work by the ground staff and the fixing of the undersoil heating allowed this match to go ahead in near perfect conditions.

Wheatley knew from previous meetings what to expect from this Reading side which was packed with experience heads and wily old men. As predicted, the Reading forwards asked a lot of questions of Wheatley, including a few turned over scrums. But Wheatley’s defences held firm, despite the pressure. The first half was somewhat attritional as the Wheatley backs, led by Adam Muir, constantly ran at the Reading backline, but couldn’t quite find a way through.

The territory game was working well for Wheatley with Andy Tippet able to put pressure on the Reading full back whenever he gathered a kick. This led to Wheatley’s first try as utility forward James Pollard pounced on a tackled Reading player to pick the ball up and run 22 metres in for the first try. Now Wheatley had the bit between their teeth and the running and hands of the backs were causing Reading all sorts of trouble. After boxing winger Anthony made a break and held on to three defenders as he drove forward, he flinged the ball over his head. Fortunately, Tippet was there to juggle the ball over the line from 50 metres out, although, always gracious, Tippet allowed Anthony to score the try after his audacious pass. Muir knocked over the extras.

At this point, Captain fantastic Pete Ramsdale made the brave choice of bringing on “combative” full back Duncan Dingle. Dingle decided that kicking from his own try line was boring and tried to run from 100 metres constantly. With this move, Wheatley took the initiative and pushed on attacking the Reading defences.

As the second half dawned, Wheatley were put under some stern pressure, losing a try on their own 5 metre line allowed the Reading pack to drive over and score a well-deserved try. The home side went back on to the offensive and a quick break from Tippet leading to a two on one set up Ben Highton to run in and put space between the teams, again converted by Muir who had obviously found some kicking boots somewhere.

Finally Tippet got the try he deserved after Muir took contact to pop for Tippet to hare in under the posts for the bonus point try. With Muir’s conversion, a 21 point lead was nigh on unassailable, but this did not stop Reading giving it a shot.

Continued pressure from their forwards pushed Wheatley deeper and deeper in to their own half, despite Dingle trying to flip over an opposition attacker. Until, with the last play of the game, Reading earned a succession of relatively non-sensical penalties, seemingly the referee decided that they deserved a try, and with the last play of the game, Reading earned their second try.

Wheatley finished this hard fought game 26-10.