Last Saturday Bracknell opened this season’s campaign with an excellent 63-17 win over Trowbridge at Lily Hill which had left them top of the league. So it was with good cheer that they embarked on the first away league game of the season. This time it was only 23 miles to Windsor they faced rather than the 210 mile to Launceston made in the last away fixture, only three members of the current match day squad remained from that trip.

Windsor’s opening game saw them lose at Beaconsfield 47-36 but four tries saw them claim a losing bonus point. All pointed to this being a highly competitive Berkshire derby.

The game started with a minute’s silence for David Hyde the Henley Hawks player who died suddenly after playing last Saturday.

Neither side would trouble the scorers in the first half the stout defence of both side meaning the game was predominately played between the 22s.

Whatever was said in the Bracknell changing room over the traditional half time oranges worked as within 5 minutes of the re-start Chris Laidler bulldozed his way over the Windsor try line for the game’s opening score.

With Bracknell pressuring the Windsor try line, a catch and drive off a line saw Ben Bathurst come up with the touchdown to double Bracknell’s lead, 0-10. Three minutes later an almost carbon copy move saw golden locked Ben Yates touchdown and Bracknell were starting to enjoy their afternoon.

Ben Yates was involved again in the fourth try, breaking the line he found space only to be dragged down in front of the Windsor posts. A quick recycle of the ball saw John Maybe cross the white wash on his Bracknell debt to earn Bracknell a bonus point with twelve minutes remaining.

There was still enough time for Bracknell to score two further try’s. Some swift hands put Bradley Walters free into space for him to scamper in and score in the corner. The final play of the game saw Ruairi Henderson dot down to crown a very pleasing second half performance from Bracknell.

Full time: Windsor 0 Bracknell 34 (Points: Windsor 0 Bracknell 5)

Next Saturday Bracknell return to home action when second placed Banbury make the trip to Lily Hill for what should be an entertaining game, kick off is 3pm. Prior to kick off a delicious three course Pre-Match Lunch is available for only £25, for more details and booking click here.

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Bracknell: 1 Jake Hodge 2 Bradley Walters 3 Nick Ovens 4 Dave Barron 5 Jamie Johnson 6 John Maybe 7 Tom Field 8 Ken Hodgson 9 Alex Frame 10 Johnny O’Hehir 11 Ben Yates 12 Chris Laidler 13 Dan Mays 14 Ian Burch (c) 15 Danny Bournes Replacements: Ruairi Henderson, Ben Bathhurst, Jake Findlay.

Photos courtesy Paul Ridley