Back in early January when this game was originally scheduled to have been played I could only see one winner and a 5 point try bonus win looked to be very much on the cards. In their previous 6 games Old Reds had managed just 2 draws against fellow strugglers and had lost the other 4 games including a loss at home to Chard.

This time around however, just 3 weeks later, they had beaten Hornets at home – no mean feat – and had followed that up with a win at Newton Abbot which is something even Exmouth couldn’t do. With Bracknell having just played their best game of the season to leave Redingensians pointless for the first time this season there was always the slight concern that an “after the Lord Mayor’s show” performance from Bracknell could give Old Reds a chance of a 3rd consecutive win against opposition placed comfortably above them in the league.

As it turned out it wasn’t lack of effort or ability that was to lead to the visitor’s downfall – more a lack of discipline. With 26 minutes gone an evenly contested game had seen a missed penalty opportunity by Old Red’s and a successful one by Bracknell’s Owain Davies but far more significantly Old Red’s had seen no less than 3 yellow cards. The last of these resulted in a further penalty by Owain Davies and took the score to 6 – 0 but then their depletion in the number of bodies on the field really started to take its toll.

Bracknell scored their first try with a fine individual effort from Barry Davies as he touched down under the posts for an easy conversion by Owain Davies. Their second try came soon after when George Milligan’s persistence created a break that was finished off by Nick Ovens in close support as he touched down, yet again under the posts. The conversion by Owain Davies was a mere formality. The half time score line read Bracknell 20 – 0 Old Redcliffians

Having avoided what could have been a banana skin of a game, partially through solid effort and partially through remaining on the right side of the referee, those watching could be forgiven for thinking that Bracknell would ease along in the second half, end up with 4 or 5 tries and settle nicely into 3rd place in the table. Old Red’s had other ideas however and even though they were to lose the second half 7 – 5 they showed the form that had proved too good for Hornets and Newton Abbot in recent weeks. They kept their discipline, kept working, kept the ball and more importantly kept all their players on the pitch.

It was Bracknell who opening the second half scoring with another try from the long striding, gliding Barry Dwyer and the predictable conversion by Owain Davies but with 30 minutes still to play that was to be their last. Old Red’s had the better of the final half hour and as Bracknell strived for their 4th try it never looked likely. Old Reds were rewarded for their efforts as their winger rounded the home defence but the conversion attempt was wayward.

Bracknell had followed up the previous week’s stunning victory with a solid workmanlike performance that has consolidated their place in the upper echelons of the league table

Bracknell 27 – 5 Old Redcliffians (Bracknell 4 points – Old Reds 0 points)

Bracknell – Matt Brambley, Sly Silvester, Nick Ovens, Leo Bailey, Ollie Taylor, Giuseppe Salustri, George Milligan (C), Michael Clarke, Barry Dwyer, Joe Price, George Owen, Ben Nowak, Stuart Mackay, Ian Burch, Owain Davies. Subs –Kenny Barry, Pete Austin, Ben Yates (all played)

Pete’s Predictions

Promotion candidates: No changes here this week but I’ve dug out an interesting fact. If Redingensians get promoted as I still expect them to they will do so having never won a league match at Lily Hill Park. If I’m correct I think the 2 sides have played 5 league games at Lily Hill Park over the years. By my reckoning, when you apply the current bonus point system to these results Bracknell’s league record against Redingensians at Lily Hill Park is P5 W5 L0 Points for 172 Points against 48. League points – Bracknell 23 Redingesians 1. Now that surprised even me!

Win of the week: For the first time ever in Pete’s predictions a side is awarded Win of the Week for the 2nd consecutive week. Congratulations to Bracknell. You’ve got to be in it to win it….Go BRFC

Relegation worries: I’m going to stick my neck out and say that I can see Old Reds surviving in this league this season. Before Christmas things didn’t look so rosy for them but their form in 2015 must at least give them the belief that they can get the better of enough of those sides around them to work their way out of the relegation struggle.

Because games were a bit thin on the ground this week here are a couple of other facts to keep you going. Only one side has won their last 5 games – Old Centralians. That new score board is working wonders. Only one side has lost their last 5 games – Weston-super-Mare. Perhaps my very first prediction of the season wasn’t such a shot in the dark after all.

Next week’s fixtures: Redingensians need to get back to winning ways when they host the only side they’ve not yet beaten so far this season – Hornets. Rather bizarrely I don’t think anyone but Old Patesians has got anywhere near The Rams at Sonning so I would expect a home win. If they were to slip up again however, the pressure would really be on.

Bracknell has a tough trip to Exmouth and I’m sure the boys will appreciate any support we can give them

GO BRFC