Reading scored the only try of the game, from replacement hooker Steve King after 58 minutes. This put the visitors a point behind at 6–5, and they seemed to take the initiative when Dan Witko put over a penalty three minutes later to take the lead.

By this time, the pitch had been churned up and scoring was difficult and the vital penalty came 10 minutes from the end.

Reading No.8 Tim Macnaughton was penalised for a mis-timed high tackle. It was neither deliberate nor malicious but the result was inevitable – a kickable penalty to Newbury and a yellow card.

Reading were reduced to 14 men for virtually the rest of the game, and West kicked the penalty for the lead which the home team held onto until the end.

Considering the conditions, the game was remarkably open but Newbury were better equipped as West was the more successful with his kicking in open play.

It was the kind of day when a big boot was needed to gain position for attacks to be launched.

Missing Alex Murray Smith at fly-half, Reading had to throw the ball around from deep and, with both sides putting in some great tackles, progress was difficult. This had a big influence on the result.

Nevertheless, Reading can feel happy with much of their play. The set piece was good and there was some excellent handling around the field.

Both sides worked hard on keeping the ball alive and both tackled well. While Newbury had the edge in terms of territory and possession, Reading were always in a game competed to the very end.

Where Reading were at fault, however, was in getting on the wrong side of the referee, Peter Caunt, particularly during the early stages.

As a result, West was able to kick two early penalties in the fifth and 17th minutes to give his side a useful 6-0 lead.

It was clearly going to get harder to score as the conditions worsened but, out the blue, Steve King found a gap on the left and ploughed his way through a puddle to touch down in the corner for his second try in two matches.

Three minutes later the home side was penalised in front of the posts and Reading were in the lead for the first time as Witko slotted the ball over.

Then came the final score from West and Reading had to make do with winning their 13th bonus point of the season.

In difficult conditions it was a game which could have gone either way. Newbury, a side six places and 16 points ahead of Reading in the table, have lost just once at home this season and that was against top team Chippenham by a solitary point.

Reading now face a trip to mid-table Witney this Saturday (2pm ko). eighth in the league, two places above Reading. Wing Martin Shaw is not available and this opens the way for Jordan Gomez to return to the squad for the first time this season. Also back in is second row Sam Twining.