IN A game that saw both teams enter unbeaten, it was Reading Abbey who kept their 100 per cent win record intact in the Bucks/Berks & Oxon Premier last weekend.

However, it was Swindon College Old Boys that took an early lead after Reading were penalised from their first touch of the match, allowing Charlie Grabe to slot the three points.

But then, College’s ill-discipline cost them a series of penalties, allowing Abbey the possession and territory they needed to push back up the field and with a competent kicker, they eventually opted for points and levelled the score.

The resulting restart was a second moment of anguish for Old Boys as the hosts’ number eight took the ball and went straight through the defensive line, only for Michael Calvert bring him down with a fine tackle.

Reading then lost their hooker to the sin-bin after he punched second row Adam Reeves.

Even against 14 men, Old Boys couldn’t get through the line and a knock to the head of Stuart Knight saw him leaving the field almost as quickly as he took to it, with Ross Saville coming in to fly-half and Liam Spillane moving to full-back.

However, that change was short-lived as Saville tore his bicep after only minutes of being on the pitch and was forced to take a seat back on the bench.

A second re-shuffle of the backs saw Spillane return to fly-half, Grabe switch to full-back and Toby Haynes take up his preferred position on the wing.

As Old Boys readjusted to their new field positions, Abbey grabbed three tries in ten minutes to help them to a 25-3 at half time.

After the interval, the visitors enjoyed the lion’s share of possession and territory, forcing Abbey to lose their discipline once more as they saw their blindside flanker yellow carded after striking Calvert.

College took advantage of having the extra man and saw Spillane barge his way over with 25 minutes remaining.

The Swindon side continued to search for more points but could not find a way through the Reading defensive line as they lost 25-8.