MATCH REPORT: DRAGON'S TEETH MAINTAIN UNBEATEN START

THE Dragon’s Teeth celebrated being named Berkshire’s Team of the Month for September with a convincing 66-14 Friday Night Lights triumph at Reading 3rd XV.

It was a fourth straight Counties Three Tribute Berks, Bucks & Oxon South bonus-point win for the DT’s, whose sensational first-half display saw them run in an incredible eight tries.

It didn’t take long for the Teeth to bite as a strong maul inside the Reading 22 precipitated some pick-and-goes before scrum-half Paul Wintersgill found Mike Duda to show his pace and power for the opening try, the flanker carrying two-would be defenders over the line.

James Dias added the extras, and he repeated the trick shortly afterwards as a brilliant AJ Peplinski score extended the lead, the wing returning a kick and scything through the defence to touch down under the posts.

The third try came after Dan Bennett’s off-load and some good hands from No. 8 Chris Kessell freed Duda to sprint over for his second, Dias again on target.

With a 21-0 lead established, RAMS then launched a ferocious five-try spree – Dias converting them all – starting with another spectacular effort from the electric Peplinski.

Next to cross was Fergus Coia, the centre also showing impressive pace, before a fine turnover from Hamish Bergeret allowed Bennett to step a defender and pop a wonderful ball to Harrison Stanners for the sixth try.

Peplinki then showed his defensive capabilities with a strong tackle forcing the ball loose for Duda to pick up and run-in for his hat-trick, and the excellent Bennett then collected his first with a great individual finish at the end of a smashing team try.

Leading 59-0 at the break having also kicked a penalty, the DTs rung the changes with hooker Richard Inns and Robin Taylor coming into the front row, Sam Brian behind them and Rupert Erskine on for Duda.

With the hosts also making a number of substitutions, Reading settled quicker and got on the scoreboard as a barrage of strong runners eventually breached the defence for a converted try.

Inns was then sin-binned for an infringement at the ruck, and some more sloppy play from the DTs saw them throw a loose pass which was hoovered up in their own 22 for Reading to grab their second.

However, despite the conversion going over, RAMS responded and collected the final score of an entertaining evening through Erskine, the extras again added.

Manager Marcus Noye was pleased with the performance and the event as a whole, stating: “The crowd was the biggest the DTs have had all season and it shows Friday night under the lights is a great spectacle and should be repeated at this level.

“It was a very good showing from our young team with lots putting up their hands for the coaches.

“I was impressed by the whole team's effort, but in particular Bleddyn Parry was again outstanding in defence, Tom Cook played well and Fergus was dangerous throughout.”

And while it was a convincing win, Marcus ended by praising the hosts as he said: “

Huge credit to Reading – they had a lot of the Rhinos team helping them out and their heads didn't drop once. The game was played in great spirit.”