Bracknell 1XV success at Home

by Gary Miles

Calm Overcast day, rearranged fixture 2pm kick-off originally scheduled the week before Christmas which was called off due to a waterlogged pitch. Banbury kicked off towards the clubhouse. After a a few clearance kicks Bracknell built some momentum, a run by Birch, followed by three phases, the home side were awarded a penalty about 30 metres out, a straight forward score by Olli Radford and Bracknell were 3-0 up in 4 minutes.

On 8 minutes Bracknell increased their lead, Banbury had possession and after a few phases were awarded a penalty of their own, this hit the post so the score remained 3-0. Another four minutes later Bracknell were playing advantage but the free-ball came to nothing, a slightly more difficult penalty kick was dispatched to take the score to 6-0.

Bracknell's backs had secure the ball as the half approached the mid-point, Banbury had just gone through 8 phases but a forward pass had the ball won from the scrum, two phases and a kick to half-way, the line-out won, four phases later a run from the home-side backs, Banbury found themselves offside, the resulting penalty was scored. 9-0

Banbury restarted and upped the intensity the pressure told and after spending a long time in The Bracknell 22, a scrum was given a good push, one the ball was out the Banbury backs moved the ball and scored under the posts, the conversion took the score to 9-7.

Bracknell restarted and having been under pressure it was now the home-sides turn, after some solid possession the ball was out to the wing by the back, another free-all kick to the wing had another converted try to take the score to 16-7.

Again the momentum swung the other way after an exchange of clearance kicks, Banbury won a line-out against the throw, a scrum was then won against the put-in, the away side kept the ball and eventually scored in the corner, with the conversion missed, score 16-12 on 39 minutes. The half-time whistle went 5 minutes later.

HT Bracknell 16 Banbury 12, the ambulance arrived

Bracknell restarted towards the clubhouse, on 57 minutes Bracknell were awarded a penalty but their was to be a stoppage of about 12 minutes due to an unfortunate injury to a Banbury player, the ambulance arrived quickly, are thoughts are with the player and wish him well. Play resumed at 15.09, with the time back on the penalty was scored , 19-12.

Their followed some Banbury pressure, but Bracknell escaped due to a fine run by Cannon, too 10 metres past the half-way line. The Bracknell scrum was brought back for a penalty and this time it was kicked to 5 for a line-out, 4 phases later the ball was out to the right wing, conversion missed, 24-12.

The last score was slightly bizarre, Bracknell had a penalty moved forward twice, possibly for disputing a decision, the penalty was kicked to touch, but the tables were turned when Banbury were awarded a penalty after Bracknell had gone through 9 phases. This was also kicked to touch and the line-out won eventually ended in a scrum for a knock-on, the scrum half kicked through and Banbury touched down to score, with the conversion the score was now 24-19.

Their was just time to restart, but a knock-on produced the final whistle.

Bracknell 24 (4pts) Banbury 19 (1pt)