Brixham 27 - Bracknell 26

The Bracknell team showing a number changes from last week; Nick Ovens in on debut for Ken Dowling at prop and Matt Brambley starting at second row in place of Kenny Barry. With a strong wind across the pitch, Bracknell played down in the first half.

If Rory’s ‘cunning plan’ was to prevent to Brixham from scoring then the cunning plan lasted as long as Baldricks (he of Blackadder fame)! Within 1 minute of the kick off Brixham had scored a try. Brixham winger Matt Crosscombe scoring a well worked try.

Penalties were exchanged before Brixham scored their second try through full back Steve Worth following some strong running from the Brixham backs, leaving the score 13-3 after ten minutes.
Bracknell got back into the game with a try from Stuart Mackay. A cut back and some straight running from a scrum seeing him go under the posts. The conversion was kicked by George Owen. Score now 13-10.

With the sides exchanging penalties, Brixham scored their third and final try with a catch and drive from a line out, breaking the previous now stout Bracknell defence. Winger forward Scot Puleston touching down. Conversion was missed.

Bracknell just had time to kick a penalty, George Owen slotting. Score at Half time 21-16.

Bracknell opened the scoring five minutes into the second half and in doing so took the lead for the first time in the game. Following a number phases on the Brixham line, Stuart Mackay produced a deft cross kick for George Owen to touch down. He converted his own try, 21-23

For the first time in the game the noisy home crowd had gone quiet. This was to be short lived as Brixham were awarded a penalty, which resulted in Giuseppe Salustri being yellow carded. The siege cannon boot of Brixham replacement Dan Parkes putting Brixham 27-23 ahead, from almost the half way line.

George Owen got Bracknell to within a point of Brixham successfully kicking his fifth kick of the day.

With eight minutes remaining it was Brixhams turn to be reduced in numbers, prop Russ Morris being shown a yellow card. Unfortunately from the resultant penalty the radar of George Owen disserting him and his kick went just wide of the upright.

With time up on referee Peter Coulthard's watch, Bracknell were forced to run a penalty from deep within their own 22. The resultant 80 meter drive saw the lively Barry Dwyer hulled down in front of the Brixham posts. The referee deemed Bracknell not to have released the ball, allowing Brixham to kick the ball dead. 27-26 full time.

The fine lines between winning and losing was clear to be seen on the faces of the players of both sides. Bracknell left to wonder if this was ‘the one that got away’?

Credit to both teams for producing a game of excellent quality. Thank you to Brixham for being excellent hosts (and for the marching bands!) and a massive thanks to all those Bracknell supporters that made the three hour plus trip to South Devon to support the team.

The 1XV now have a week’s break before a home game vs Chard on the 15th November. Don’t forget you can watch the England vs New Zealand game at the clubhouse next week – food will be available.

Bracknell: 1:Jonny Mirza 2:Stuart Silvester 3:Nick Ovens 4:Ollie Taylor 5.Matt Brambley 6:Giuseppe Salustri 7:George Milligan (C) 8:Nico Maybury 9:Barry Dwyer 10:Joe Price 11:Ian Burch 12:Ben Nowak 13:Stuart Mackay 14:George Owen 15:Ben Yates Subs Leo Bailey, Kim Plant, Chris Brember