Whether it was the fact that today’s game was a local derby, whether it was because it was talismanic Bracknell favourite Nico Maybury’s last match or whether it was two fingers to the pessimism in Pete’s predictions last week - something sparked Bracknell into life this Saturday and they gave perhaps their best performance of the season to beat their local rivals and league leaders Redingensians.

Only Hornets have managed to beat the league leaders so far this season but no-one has left them without even a losing bonus point to show for their 80 minutes of sweat and toil – until today. I don’t think for a minute that this defeat will derail The Ram’s promotion prospects, in fact it may even do them some good, but at Lily Hill Park today they were second best to a Bracknell side who showed their true ability.

As you can work out from the score this was not end to end stuff. In the first half the two sides tended to nullify each other’s efforts and scoring chances were far and few between. The pattern that did emerge however was that Bracknell had the upper hand in the lineouts whereas Redingenians had the edge in the scrums.

Redingensians opened the scoring with a 13th minute penalty but 6 minutes later lost a player to the sin bin for pulling down Bracknell’s drive following yet another soaring lineout take. The subsequent penalty, slotted by Owain Davies drew the scores level at 3 – 3.

On 33 minutes Redingensians’ backs ran an interesting move. Their outside centre (without the ball) runs into Bracknell’s inside centre, while their inside centre runs around them both through the gap created by his team mate and breaks the gain line leading to a score in the corner. Call me old fashioned (and I’m sure you will) but when did the rules change? How can a man without the ball run in front of play and take out a defender to create a channel for his team mate to run into? This is not American Football.

However, almost as if he who oversees the laws of Rugby Football was watching (and I don’t mean Jon Dance) the conversion was missed, Owain Davies slotted another penalty for Bracknell and Redingenians missed an immediate opportunity to nullify it. Unlike some predictions it still remained too close to call. Half time 6 – 8.

As Bracknell headed back to their changing room and The Rams stayed out on the pitch (presumably because they’re not used to their changing rooms being ready) the home support reflected on a first half where their team had managed to hold their own while the away support were left wondering when the fireworks were going to start.

To continue the rather unseasonal analogy The Rams came out after the restart like a rocket – their intensity seemed to have been upped a level and they scored a sparkler of a try 3 minutes in – but with the conversion missed – little did they know that this would be their last score of the match and their day was to fizzle out like a damp……..firework. You can take analogies too far at times. 6 – 13.

The Bracknell players on the other hand were revelling in the role of underdogs. Despite the pressure in the scrums they continued their domination in the lineout. What Ollie Taylor and Leo Bailey might lack in weight in the scrums they more than made up for with athletic ability in the lineouts and the ‘Gensians hooker had no idea where to throw.

Two further penalties from the unerring boot of Owain Davies took the score to 9 – 13 and then 12 – 13 but perhaps the turning point of the game was when Redingenians fluffed their chance to turn the screws on the Bracknell scrummage. A situation that might have resulted in a penalty try for the visitors ended up with a penalty to Bracknell and they cleared their lines for what was to be the last time.

Bracknell’s turn to up the pressure opened a legal gap in the centres for Stuart MacKay to score under the posts from where Owain Davies was never going to miss but with the score at 19 – 13 there was still 20 minutes to play and less than a converted try between the sides.

Much to the relief of the home support however the vast majority of the last quarter of the game was played in neutral territory, Redingensians started to make uncharacteristic errors while chasing the game and the likelihood of a win against the form book became more and more realistic. When Owain Davies’ 76th minute penalty added another 3 points to take the score to 22 – 13 it was as good as over. A yellow card to ‘Gensians no 12 for back chatting to the ref just summed up the league leaders’ frustration.

Bracknell was the better side and deserved the win. Redingensians, having scored their lowest points tally of the season and failed to secure a single point for the first time this season are still top of the league by 6 points but may have had a bit of a reality check – a wobble at least.

Leo Bailey took man-of-the-match for his control of the line out, Owain Davies needs recognition for a faultless 6 from 6 and 17 points and the entire Bracknell squad, on and off the field deserve a mention for rallying from recent average performances and pulling a great win out of the bag when it really mattered.

I must also give one final mention to Nico Maybury for his contribution to Bracknell RFC over the last 6 years or so. What better way to give your final curtain call – we’re all going to miss you.

So, who’s the best side in Berkshire? Well………league positions aside, this score line says its Bracknell…..and that (in my totally unbiased opinion) will remain so until we meet again!
Bracknell 22 – 13 Redingenians (Bracknell 4 points – ‘Gensians 0 points)

Bracknell – Jonny Mirza, Stuart Silvester, Matt Brambley, Leo Bailey, Ollie Taylor, Pete Austin, George Milligan (C), Nico Maybury, Barry Dwyer, Joe Price, George Owen, Ben Nowak, Stuart Mackay, Ian Burch, Owain Davies. Subs – Giuseppe Salustri, Kenny Barry, Chris Brember

Pete’s Predictions

Promotion candidates? Despite today’s set back I still don’t see Redingensians being caught. They have already played their 4 closest rivals away and just have Exmouth and Hornets to play at home. No disrespect intended to anyone else in the league but if they can win those two home games they should be home and dry.

Win of the week? Yet again this week two sides beat opposition placed above them in the league. Old Reds nabbed a very useful away win at Newton Abbot but the south Devon side have been going through a bit of a rough patch recently with just one win in their last 5 games – and that by a single point against struggling Weston-super-Mare. Anyway, who am I kidding, even if Chard had beaten Exmouth, “win of the week” would still have to go to Bracknell for toppling the league leaders. Go BRFC

Relegation worries? Unless Weston-super-Mare do something very soon to turn the tide it’s beginning to look as if the only question that remains is who will join W-s-M and Chard in the drop zone. Old Reds, Barnstaple, Bournemouth and Old Pats have shown some fight in recent weeks but game postponements make it difficult to see what’s what. Oxford Harlequins have had just one win in seven and that was against Chard so they need to get their act together if they are going to avoid going straight back down to the league they were promoted from last year.

Next week’s fixtures
In a catch up weekend for postponed fixtures next week Bracknell host Old Reds and Hornets travel to Old Cents.

Old Cent’s haven’t played at home since early December when they edged out Brixham so will be glad to be back on home mud sorry – soil, while Hornet’s have 3 games in hand on Exmouth and by winning all three with bonus points they will only be one point off the play-offs. This is a tough game to call.

If Bracknell can perform anything like they did this week with their second consecutive home game Old Reds’ second consecutive weekend on the road may turn out to be less rewarding than their trip to Newton Abbot was this week.

Please come down to Lily Hill Park to cheer on this week’s undisputed best side in Berkshire.

GO BRFC!