Bracknell Stags 55 - Windsor II 19

What a bizarre and surreal report this is to write. On a day that provided perfect conditions for running rugby the score far outweighed the performance…. weird I know given the score line!

As per the previous weeks fixture, the Stags came flying out of the blocks and started to apply pressure though some great attacking play and some intelligent kicking through Andrew Slade, the corners providing some great field position in order for the lineout to provide some quick ball for the first try within the initial 10 minutes of play.

However in a spooky resemblance to the previous week, instead of that being used as a catalyst to push on and continue work in the same mode, it again seemed to make players want to play the 7’s version of the game and to throw the ball around with no control or structure, this allowed the opposition, who it has to be said took their chance to get their tails up and to respond with a well worked try themselves and to begin to apply there own brand of rugby on the Lily Hill Park men. A lot of tit for tat rugby was played without any real standout moments, apart from Jasper Miranda’s great reaction to the refs Kick Off!!!! But the frustration was evident from everyone, myself included. The heroes of the previous week, the forwards, failed to gain any parity in the scrum and this meant that the platform was not there to play with any go forward ball. That said the discipline was good in this difficult period and even though the rugby was not attractive to watch a couple of tries did appear from some good INDIVIDUAL efforts…

The second half provided pretty much of the same individualistic displays and it has to be said resulted in a couple of stunning tries (I know it is all contradictory) but that is how the day was!!! One minute good the next bad that resulted in good tries!!! WHAT THE HELL!!!!

Anyway, not to dwell, how can you berate a side that put 55 points on a side that will always be top 4 of the league????? So I wont…. the players have and will be honest with each other and will put this right during this weeks training. We have Amersham & Chiltern next and they too are a side to be respected and I am sure will punish us if we perform as individuals again next week. We must learn to play with control and apply the same intensity as we do when we play against the 1’s on Thursday nights at training.

These words will mean a lot to the boys: CONTROL & PATTERNS, you are all great as individuals but we must play as a TEAM.

MOM: ROB CLARKE for the second week in a row, Rob carried well, linked up well between the back and forwards and is starting to find his feet at Bracknell, he is another one to watch and I have no doubt will push for higher honours in the club!!! Well-played mate.