Last time these two sides met back on 12th September Shelford were the easy winners in a 52-17 win. It looked like this might be repeated as Shelford took an early lead, hacking on a Bracknell dropped pass to score and convert within the first minute.

This lead would only last ten minutes as Bracknell were to pull level. Taking a scrum against the head the ball found its way to fly half Liam Hemming for him a break the Shelford line and score under the posts. 7-7.

Shelford retook the lead with a try through winger Vuli Velkune following a period of intense Shelford pressure. Josh Simmons kicking the conversion.

Another Bracknell equaliser looked on the cards as some slick hands between Joe Price, Ben Yates set Sakeasi Yabia into space, only to be pulled back by referee for a forward pass.

Half time 7-14.

The Bracknell supporters did not have long to wait for Bracknell to pull level. A show and go by Liam Hemming saw him score Bracknell’s second try. Conversion missed by Lewis Dennett.

Almost immediately Bracknell scored again. A break by full back Ben Yates and an inside pass to winger Sakeasi Yabia saw him break a number of tackles to find space to score in the corner. Conversion attempt by Lewis Dennett just going wide.

Bracknell now were now exerting all the pressure. A series of attacking scrums were held up, until Liam Hemming broke the line and scored Bracknell’s fourth and bonus point try (not to mention his hat track!) under the posts. Lewis Dennett kicking the conversion.

Shelford scored another converted try but any nerves that the Bracknell supporters may have had were eased by a Liam Hemming penalty.

Full time: Bracknell 29 Shelford 21 (Points: Bracknell 5 Shelford 0)

The man of the match award went to the youthful Ben Nowak who was playing in his twentieth consecutive 1XV season!!

Bracknell's next game is Saturday 9th January 2016 away at Hertford (KO 2pm).

Bracknell: 1: Joe Pickett 2: Stuart Silvester 3: Jonny Mirza (C) 4: Kenny Barry 5: Leo Bailey 6: Sam Richardson 7: Tom Devereux 8: Lachlan Valentine 9: Lewis Dennett 10: Liam Hemming 11: Sakeasi Yabia 12: Ben Nowak 13: Joe Price 14: Ian Burch 15: Ben Yates Subs: Rob Baragwanath, Jamie Rudkin, Andy Slade.

Pete’s Predictions
We’ve reached the point in the season where sides start to meet opposition they have already played and don’t ask me why, but we find ourselves with the perfect reverse fixtures of the SECOND game of the season in this first week of re-matches. You’ll need someone smarter than me to explain why we don’t see a reverse of the first week – but we don’t. The first week’s fixtures are repeated in the final week!

It’s interesting (at least to some I hope) to see how things have changed since the first round of these fixtures – but don’t worry, I’m not going to do this every week. Starting from the bottom of the results list the difference between the first fixture in week 2 and the reverse fixture this week is as follows:-
- Wimbledon lost to Hertford by 15 points in week 2 and by 12 points this week
- Westcliff lost to Westcombe Park by 21 points in week 2 and by 41 points this week
- Colchester lost to London Irish Wild Geese by 19 points in week 2 and by 28 points this week
- Eton Manor lost to Tonbridge Juddian by 68 points in week 2 and by 34 points this week
- Gravesend lost to East Grinstead by 26 points in week 2 and by 27 points this week
And that’s where the similarities end…
- Chichester lost to Guernsey by 38 points in week 2 but WON by 11 points this week
- Bracknell lost to Shelford by 35 points in week 2 but WON by 8 points this week

My predictions foresaw everyone one of these….other than Chichester’s home win against Guernsey. I really didn’t expect them to bring their 7 game losing run to an end so it’s 6 out of 7 again this week as far as my predictions are concerned.

Promotion candidates.
The top 4 all secured 4 try bonus point wins so the points difference at the top hasn’t changed but Hertford, who I suggested in week 12 might join the promotion contenders, swapped places with Shelford, who I have mentioned in recent weeks; won’t

Win of the week.
There are only 2 candidates. As I mentioned earlier on, 2 sides turned around week 2 defeats against the same opposition to take noteworthy week 12 victories. Both sides beat opposition well above them in the league but Bracknell’s result turnaround of 43 points was eclipsed by Chichester’s 49 point turnaround in their win against Guernsey. Not only is the point’s turnaround quite remarkable but in the context of the league, each of these 5 rather unexpected points could be worth their weight in gold in the relegation battle. Also, having predicted a Bracknell home win, “Win of the Week” has to go to Chichester – so congratulations go down to the south coast

Relegation worries.
To make it simple – anyone in the bottom 5

Next fixtures
Here are my predictions for week 15 in league fixture list order. With East Grinstead being my tip for the playoffs it’s difficult to bet against them but Westcombe Park have won 6 out of 6 at home and are the side responsible for the only blemish on East Grinstead’s home record so while this fixture may be too close to call I’ll go with home advantage. Will a clean sweep of home wins be my first clean sweep of predictions? We’ll have to wait and see
Home win
Home win
Home win
Home win
Home win
Home win
Home win

Have a great Christmas everyone!

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