Reading shook off the effect of losing second-row forward Sean Kenneally to a red card after just 13 minutes to record a five-try hammering in South West 1 East.

Playing against a strong cross-field wind in the first half, Reading nevertheless managed to lead 8-5 at the interval thanks to a great solo try by Alex Dorliac from 70 yards and a penalty by Sweeney.

Buckingham pulled level with a penalty before being swept aside by four tries and two conversions.

The introduction of prop Andrew Grierson at half-time injected extra power in the Reading scrum.

Five minutes into the second half a pick up from a five-metre scrum ended with winger Jordan Gomez scoring a good try, Sweeney converting.

Five minutes later good forward driving ended with the other winger, Duncan Mollison, scoring to stretch the lead to 20-8.

Alex Dorliac then raced through a gap in the 22, and the final try came courtesy of Grierson, who drove onto a pass from two metres out – and there was no stopping him from that range.

READING: Robin Coakley; Jordan Gomez, Alex Dorliac, Peter Czernuszka, Duncan Mollison (Chris Greig, 70 mins); Rob Sweeney, Richard Lester; Shaun Collins, Paul Fisher, Richard Bellingham (Andrew Grierson h/t), Mike Cullom, Sean Kenneally, Jon Cranton, Scott Heirene (capt), Ben Hughes

Reading Wanderers produced their best display of the season to beat Marlow 2nds 41-5. Full report in Friday’s getreading.