LONDON IRISH suffered a second narrow home defeat in succession with a 17-13 loss to Wasps.
Exiles led 3-0 at half-time at Madejski Stadium, despite being reduced to 14 men with a yellow card to forward Ben Franks.
And Nick Kennedy’s men extended their advantage to 10-0 after the break when Alex Lewington crossed the whitewash.
But Wasps completed the turnaround with three tries of their own to win and leave Irish with a solitary bonus point.
And with second-bottom Worcester Warriors winning again, Irish are now five points adrift at the foot of the Aviva Premiership.
In other rugby action, REDINGENSIANS RAMS’ winning run came to an end with defeat to Taunton Titans while CROWTHORNE picked up their first win of the season, edging past Didcot 6-5 in a low-scoring affair.
On the football field, BINFIELD came away from their trip to Tuffley Rovers with a 3-2 victory in the Hellenic Premier.
The Moles made the trip to Gloucestershire with a patched up squad and after kick-off was delayed due to the M4 roadworks and Binfield also forced to wear Tuffley’s third kit as theirs was stuck in traffic, it felt like it could be an afternoon to forget.
But Roger Herridge’s men put in a fine display to continue their good recent form.
Ian Davies put the Moles ahead, but goals from Shayne Anson and Brett James gave Tuffley the lead.
Will Shaw levelled up on 26 minutes and Binfield, who handed a debut to 17-year-old defender Jamie Griggs, took all three points after Brad Pagliaroli’s second half penalty.
WOODLEY UNITED suffered disappointment in their big battle at the bottom of the league, losing 1-0 to Fairford Town.
And it was a similar story in Division One East as WOKINGHAM AND EMMBROOK were edged out 1-0 by Wallingford Town.
EVERSLEY AND CALIFORNIA’S top-of-the-table clash with Worcester Park in Combined Counties Division One ended in defeat, losing 6-2 which extends the gap between the two sides to eight points.
In the Thames Valley Leagues, WOKINGHAM AND EMMBROOK RESERVES picked up a rare win while FINCHAMPSTEAD beat Maidenhead Magpies in cup action.
It was another disappointing weekend for BRACKNELL BEES with defeat to both Basingstoke Bison and Swindon Wildcats.
READING ROCKETS had mixed fortunes, losing to Loughborough Student Riders at Bohunt on Saturday before getting back on track with victory at Kent Crusaders on Sunday afternoon.
FIXTURES (3pm unless stated)
Saturday November 25
FOOTBALL –
Sky Bet Championship
Reading 0-0 Sheffield Wednesday
Hellenic Premier Division
Tuffley Rovers 2-3 Binfield
Woodley United 0-1 Fairford Town
Hellenic Division One East
Wokingham and Emmbrook 0-1 Wallingford Town
Combined Counties Division One
Eversley and California 2-6 Worcester Park
Thames Valley Premier Division
Highmoor Ibis United 0-3 Wokingham and Emmbrook Reserves
Marlow United P-P Woodley United Royals
Thames Valley Division One
Maidenhead Town 4-3 Hurst
BTC Senior Cup
Maidenhead Magpies 2-4 Finchampstead
RUGBY –
National League 2 South
Taunton Titans 31-21 Redingensians Rams
South West Premier
Hornets 42-17 Bracknell
Berks, Bucks and Oxon Premier
Didcot 5-6 Crowthorne
HOCKEY –
MBBO Regional 2
South Berkshire 1-5 Reading 3s
South Clubs’ Division 3A
Sonning Ladies 1-2 Marlow Ladies (12pm)
Trysports Premier 1
Wycombe Ladies 2s 0-1 South Berkshire Ladies (1.10pm)
ICE HOCKEY –
National Cup
Basingstoke Bison 6-1 Bracknell Bees
BASKETBALL –
NBL Division One
Reading Rockets 61-71 Loughborough Student Riders
Sunday November 26
FOOTBALL –
Southern Women’s Division 1 North
Benson Lionesses P-P Wargrave Ladies
Wokingham and Emmbrook Ladies 4-1 Barton Rovers Ladies
Wycombe Wanderers Ladies 2-2 Woodley United Ladies
Thames Valley Counties Division 1
Caversham Ladies 2-8 Eversley and California Ladies
Thames Valley Division 2 East
Abbey Rangers Ladies 7-3 Binfield Ladies
RUGBY –
Aviva Premiership
London Irish 13-17 Wasps
ICE HOCKEY –
National Cup
Bracknell Bees 3-4 Swindon Wildcats
BASKETBALL –
NBL Division One
Kent Crusaders 72-83 Reading Rockets
