Maidenhead 20 – Bracknell Stags 37

Bracknell Stags made the short journey up the M4 for a derby fixture which would provide an opportunity for the squad to close out this years campaign and to correct a mistake that was made earlier in the season.

Bracknell Stags have only lost two fixtures all season, one of which was pre- season friendly and the other against? You have guessed it, Maidenhead, albeit only by a small margin and with an under strength team but that said you can never take a derby for granted and so the focus this week had been about putting that wrong right. Added to this, if others scores in the league went our way, we would also win what would be a second title in three seasons with a win rate around the 90% plus… not bad for any rugby side. It also provided an opportunity to meet with an old friend and former Bracknell player in young Ben Radford who it has to be said looked odd in the Maidenhead colours!! I am sure would feel that maybe the Green of Bracknell would suite him better. So the Sun was up we were on the fantastic 4G pitch and a vocal supporting crowd…the stage was set.

Both teams looked intent on playing positive running rugby with both packs struggling to dominate the other as they kept trying to find weaknesses in each other’s abilities. Defense from both sides was pretty solid and as a result the game turned into an arm wrestle early on that kept the score level until at about 25 mins some sustained pressure into the Maidenhead 22 resulted in some quick ball that found its way into the hands of the gliding Ben Yates that hit some pace and a line that the floundering Maidenhead backline had no answer for and the first try was scored with a conversion from the reliable boot of George Elliott. 0:7 .This sparked Maids into action with some good drives themselves and with Ben Radford kicking well to the corners, Stags found themselves unable to deal with the powerful driving mauls and Maids touchdown themselves and converted. 7:7. The rest of the half was played pretty even other than two penalties by George Elliott and one by Ben Radford of Maids HT: 10:16

Half Time discussion was around maintaining discipline and to try and get more runners down the channel of the Maids 10 and 12 where we felt they had a weakness that may be able to allow us to get in behind them.

Second Half started similar to the first, however Stags superior fitness was starting to tell with Maids slipping off of tackles and the Stags backline starting to really dominate. Further early tries from Sam Paine, Barry Dwyer at this key time started to show some daylight and even though Maids did not give up on the game, you could tell that Bracknell were not prepared to let this go. James Gant on his return was providing a target to his pack and Andy Slade linking up well to ensure the moves flowed well and this helped in further tries coming in from James Wright (Radders tackle of the day award) and I am not sure of the last one but I will give it to Emanuel Hines making his Stags debut…

In summary, another great all round team performance and once again this Stag team proves that you reap what you sow…work hard play hard the result will take care of itself.

It now gives us an opportunity to potentially play some younger and fringe players in the remaining three games of the season. This is important to give players of the future the experience to be in the winning environment.

Sadly it has to be my last season for a while as family and work commitments take priority next year….but one thing for sure we are in a great place and I know that these Stags players will provide you all with a great 1st Team in the future.

A special mention to Nathan Crow who has not only been a standout for the Stags this year but who made his 1st team debut yesterday v Chard. Just goes to show…if you are good enough you are old enough and you Nathan are both. Well-done mate. GO BRFC!

Bracknell Stags Nick Ovens, Jasper Miranda, Gareth Staples, Ryan Noakes, David Abbott, James Wright, Ricky Frost(C), Barry Dwyer, George Elliott, Richard Brember, Andy Slade, Ben Yates, James Gant, Paddy Haddad, Stuart Laye, Emanuel Hines, Mike Eastwell, Sam Paine