South West One

South West One
Coney Hill 7 v Bracknell 17
By Henry La

Match photos at http://www.solidphotos.com/main.php?g2_itemId=18904

Bracknell was able to replay their previously abandoned game against Coney Hill on Saturday due to their early elimination from the EDF Cup. There was some concern about the weather but fortunately the rain system had moved away from this part of the West Country by kick off time.

The Gloucester club is one that few venues in this league that teams do not enjoy visiting. This is due to the uncompromising and intimidating playing style along with a match atmosphere that usually affects both players and officials.

This seems to have rubbed off on the visitors as Bracknell were unable to climb to the heights achieved last week against Redingensians and they weren’t helped by the referee who seemed shell shocked from having to red card a Coney Hill player for violent conduct after just 7 minutes. His concentration must have affected as the first half only lasted 35 minutes but, such was Bracknell’s below par performance that, Coach Sheasby wouldn’t have complained.

Despite the loss of a player and to their credit, Coney Hill players raised their game but they lacked the talent to stop a more experienced, albeit off colour, Bracknell side from making the most of their ‘game in hand’ and by picking up two points.

Coach Chris Sheasby’s reaction after the game was to say, “This is a one word interview – Victory!”
His feeling of frustration quickly wore off and he soon explained his reason for being disappointed, “It rained all last night, it was a heavy pitch and they play typical Gloucester rugby. The fact is that we allowed ourselves to get dragged down to their level when we should have risen above it but, we didn’t!

He continued, “We could see where they were weak and could have carved them up. There was one frustrating case when we had a clear opportunity to score but we took the wrong option by passing the ball to a forward standing in the back row, who then dropped it!”

Clearly angered he said, “We made the wrong line out calls. It was an easy ride last week but you’ve got to be able do it when it is tough and, not enough of these boys did that. Still, we dogged it out abd won the game

Looking at the positives Sheasby said,” We got 2 points and the others around us stood still. We have made the most of our game in hand and have moved to 3rd place ahead of Redingensians. This is just two points behind Bournemouth who this week have a tough away game to Exmouth and if we win at Old Pats next week, we could be in second place going into Christmas and that is where I said we wanted to be.”

Skipper Ben Nowak was also positive saying, “It looked a nice day but conditions were bad to play in, it was very greasy and the referee didn’t want to control the pack but when you come down here you have to live with that! Still, we ground out the 17-7 win and we’re climbing up the table. The fact is that we dominated the game and other than their try from the chip they never looked like scoring.

Looking forward he concluded, “I’m generally pleased and ready to move onto Old Pats this Saturday.”

A reason for the depressing atmosphere felt by visitors to Coney Hill is partly due to the match pitch being located on the of the local Arts College playing fields which is accessed through a narrow pathway. It didn’t get any better when the heavy rains turned the path into a 6 inch deep stream so, the alternative path was via the water logged bushes and finally onto stepping stones to get through the gateway.

Both players and spectators had to negotiate this so once the £2 entrance fee was paid it was surprising to find the well grassed playing surface, although soggy,was playable.

From the kick off Bracknell hammered into the home defence and soon had them deep into their own half. Then from a line out throw the Bracknell forwards executed a set move so after just two minutes Kai Blankley was driven over by his forwards to score close to the corner. Nowak hit a fine conversion and the visitors moved into a promising 7-0 lead.

Clearly disturbed Coney Hill was further angered when after 7 minutes they lost their number 8 (S. King) being sent off for punching a Bracknell player.

Typically going one man down this seems to inspire the other players who then challenged with ferocious energy when the ball went loose. Also, despite only having seven against eight in the scrum they were disrupting Bracknell from gaining good ball for most of the afternoon.

Nowak had a chance to increase the lead on 25 minutes with a regulation penalty but he missed and the tension was getting to the referee the home team supporters and players appealed every decision. Without the support of neutral touch judges he looked isolated and missed numerous infringements by the home team then, blowing up for half time 5 minutes early, didn’t inspire confidence by the Bracknell supporters but they were happy with the 7-0 lead.

The second half started with the visitors looking to stretch the home defence but due to a combination of poor handling, picking the wrong options when in the clear and not getting referee’s support, they failed to achieve this. Finally, after 52 minutes, a decision went their way and Nowak struck a 35 yard penalty to push the lead out to 10-0.

The game then meandered on until the 71st minute when a speculative chip by the Coney hill fly half over the Bracknell defence was caught by centre S. Felice who scored. Just how he managed to cover the ground to get there can only be left to speculation with the conversion Coney Hill narrowed the score to 10-7.

This seemed to spur the Bracknell players and they then had two serious runs at the Coney Hill line and only desperate tackling prevented them scoring until on 77 minutes, a push over try saw Nico Maybury score. Then with Nowak’s conversion Bracknell had a winning 17-7 lead.

But such was the uncertainty with the way the game was being played, there was still time for the visitors Rudal Aiono to receive a yellow card but this minor setback wasn’t to stop Bracknell stuttering to a deserved, if inglorious, victory in this most difficult away fixture.

The one benefit of the game being played as it was is that it gave Bracknell some valuable practice for next week fixture away to Old Patesians, who at near neighbours to Coney Hill but they are much better at playing the ‘Gloucester way’!

***** Courtesy of Bracknell Times