SLOUGH captain Max Miles insists the Greenies could have beaten Reading Abbey if they played to their capabilities on Saturday, writes Rob Stevens.
Slough suffered a 37-23 defeat to their Berkshire rivals at Tamblyn Fields, which leaves them in eighth position in Southern Counties North this season.
Colby Short scored the only try in the match for the home side, while Miles booted two conversions and three penalty attempts.
Miles told the Observer: “We actually started quite well. We had a 10-0 lead and hoped to kick on from there and put in an 80-minute performance.
“We were quite comfortable for 20 minutes, but then a couple of mistakes led to Reading scoring a try against the run of play and we struggled to get it back
“We tried to keep it close for a as long as possible but Reading scored two or three breakaway tries and we couldn’t get it back - they ran away with it in the end.
“We started well and that’s something we’ve tried to look at, but I don’t know if we got too comfortable and stopped for the rest of the match.”
He added: “Based on how Reading played I think we let one get away. I felt that if we played to our capabilities we would’ve won the game.
“We left three of four tries out there by making mistakes, and on another day we would’ve won the game.
“I’m disappointed with how the game went and we’re on a slide now with three defeats.”
Slough have now suffered three defeats on the spin in all competitions and welcome promotion favourites Windsor to Tamblyn Fields this Saturday.
Miles commented: “It’s probably our biggest local derby and the one we most we look forward to.
“Windsor are probably one of the favourites to go up and they had a big win last weekend.
“We’ve got to make sure we start the game well and carry that on for the full 80 minutes.
“It’s the biggest test of the season so far for us. Windsor got a big win against Buckingham last weekend, who are another good side.
“We’re at home and will try to pull out all the stops to show that recent results are just a blip.
“It’s one of those matches that makes all our hard worth over the last two seasons worthwhile.”
Windsor moved to the top in Southern Counties North following their 57-17 win against Buckingham at Home Park on Saturday.
Drifters have suffered back-to-back defeats on the road in the Berks, Bucks & Oxon (BBO) Premier this season after a 45-5 loss at Bucks rivals Chesham on Saturday.
The defeat leaves Drifters in fourth position in the league table ahead of a visit to One Pin Lane from fifth-placed Didcot this Saturday.
Farnham Royal are still looking for a first win in the BBO Championship following their 58-5 defeat to Abingdon.
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