Bracknell 15 – Tonbridge Juddians 32

The Bracknell pitch passed an early pitch inspection. Unfortunately a number of Bracknell players were not to be so lucky, meaning second row Kenny Barry and number 8 Sam Richardson had to withdraw from the Bracknell staring line up, leaving Rory to re-shuffle his pack before facing the current league leadersTonbridge Juddians (aka ‘Judds’)

It was Bracknell that started the livelier of the two sides enjoying the territory and possession. Bracknell missing an early penalty shot. With seven minutes gone Bracknell took advantage of this early dominance with a try from Stuart Mackay in the corner in front of the clubhouse. Conversion just missing.

Bracknell’s good start was to be undone. Judds responding two minutes later, with a try of their own from full back Sam Monahan following a quick tap and go from scrum half Will Ward. Conversion was missed.

With sixteen minutes gone on the clock Bracknell failed to deal with a high ball, the ricochet finding its way to Judds second row Jamie Metcalfe leaving him to scamper under the Bracknell posts. Conversion kicked by fly half Ben Cooper. 5-12.

Injury was to affect Bracknell’s line up again. Liam Henning having to leave the field of play to be replaced by Lewis Dennett at fly half, Jack Conway coming in at scrum half.

Benefiting from some fine work on the ground by Bracknell’s back row that saw them recover a loose ball within Juddians 22, Bracknell drew level with a Neil Higgins try. Conversion kicked by Lewis Dennett. 12-12 with just under half an hour gone.

The final try of the half was to come from Judds following a break down Bracknell’s flank, Judds full back Sam Monahan crossed the whitewash for his second try of the day. Conversion kicked by fly half Ben Cooper. Half time score line 12-17.

The second half opened with Lewis Dennett closing Judds lead with a penalty. Judds were to respond almost immediately with a third try from Sam Monahan, recovering his own kick. 15-22.

Judds where reduced to 14 mean when back rower Toby Martin was sent to the sin bin. From the resultant penalty Bracknell missed the touch, kicking the ball dead. Referee Karl Dickson awarding a scrum to Judds. From the scrum some poor Bracknell tackling and a break by Sam Monahan down Bracknell’s wing saw second row Jamie Metcalff score his second try off the day. The conversion being missed. 15-27.

As elements of the large crowd retreated to the clubhouse to see England score the winning runs in the cricket test match and seal a series win against South Africa, it was Judds that were to score the final try of the game, through winger Hugo Watson, to seal the win. Conversion missed.

Final Score: Bracknell 15 – Tonbridge Juddians 32 (Points: Bracknell 0 – Tonbridge Juddians 5)

Bracknell fly over to Guernsey next Saturday, in the first league game for Bracknell in Guernsey. (KO 1.30pm)

Finally we wish referee Karl Dickinson good luck as he does his 'day job' today as a Harlequins player against Cardiff Blues in the Challenge Cup.

Bracknell: 1:Harry Challenor 2:Joe Pickett 3:Jonny Mirza ( c ) 4: Josh Kronman 5. Leo Baliey 6: Tom Deveraux 7:Jamie Rudkin 8: Lachlan Valentine 9:Lewis Dennet 10:Liam Hemming 11:Stuart Mackay 12:Dan Faamatuainu 13:Neil Higgins 14:Ian Burch 15:Ben Yates Subs: Stuart Silvester, Jack Conway, Sam Richardson

Pete’s Predictions
I suppose it was too much to expect to get a full house two weeks running so I guess I have to be happy with 6 correct predictions out of 7. I thought Wimbledon’s home advantage would be enough to give them the edge over their visitors from the Channel Islands but I have to admit that Guernsey have done well on their travels.

In week 3 I suggested that Guernsey wouldn’t be title contenders but their unique home advantage would be very useful to them and would certainly protect them from the drop. As it happens their away form has been pretty good as well, having won 4 and lost 5 away from home.

I suppose, in a rather strange way, their distant location is a bit like having a home pitch with a slope. Any side that has a sloping pitch plays at least 50% of their games on a sloping pitch – and learns how to get the best use out of it. A side with a flat pitch only plays a couple of games a season on a sloping pitch and doesn’t develop a way of playing on a slope that takes the opportunities that are available. Consequently, the side with a flat pitch is at a disadvantage

Similarly, all the other sides in London and South East fly to Guernsey just once a season, with all the possible distractions that go with it, while Guernsey fly to the main land every other week – and are very well versed in doing so.

Just when I thought I had managed to bury my hatred of sloping pitches Guernsey add another dimension I hadn’t really put much thought to.

Promotion candidates.
The top 5 all won as predicted so until we see a battle between title contenders (next week perhaps), very little is going to change at the top of the table. Also as I predicted, Shelford have started to lose ground on the real contenders so the top 5 remain the top 5 - and with 10 games to go, they are all in with a chance.

Those who are really on the ball may have noticed that as of Saturday evening the RFU website’s league table shows Tonbridge Juddian at the top while the Pitchero league table puts London Irish Wild Geese in top spot. I understand that this is due to a 5 point penalty for a technical transgression on the part of Tonbridge – wait for it – while playing London Irish – and guess that the RFU might be allowing the appeal process to run its course before making any necessary points adjustment. My guess is that any appeal is a dead duck so Tonbridge will have to win the league the hard way – and probably will do!

I stand by my earlier prediction that says that Irish will not win this league. They may stay top for a few more weeks but they have a very tricky run in to the end of the season. Every one of their last 6 fixtures is against sides currently in the top half of the league and 4 of those 6 games are away from home. It’s still all to play for at the top.

Win of the week.
There were no obvious relegation or promotion battles in this week’s fixtures so there isn’t a side that have exceeded expectations under the pressures that league promotion or relegation can create.
This week, “Win of the Week” goes to the only side that bucked my predictions – and to be honest – for the second week in a row – the winners of the only game that was too close to call beforehand.
Congratulations to Guernsey for an away win that proves that they are not relying on home advantage alone

Relegation worries.
Only one side in the bottom half of the league managed a win – Colchester at Eton Manor which, with no disrespect intended – would have surprised everyone had it been any different. It’s always been tough for Eton Manor – the lowest placed side in the league system at the end of last season – who are in this league courtesy of the playoffs.

The side they beat in the playoffs, Chobham, runners up in London 1 South last season have only won 9 games out of 15 in the league below so probably wouldn’t have fared any better. Promotion isn’t the be all and end all – and more to the point in this instance – nor is relegation. Assuming Eton Manor do go down, and I can’t see how they can escape the drop, they will simply be a harder and tougher side to beat in London 1 South next season and will very probably win the majority of their games. If they bounce back up they will at least, know exactly what to expect second time around.

Next week’s fixtures
Colchester could pretty much eliminate any relegation fears with a home win against Wimbledon but that’s not a foregone conclusion – Wimbledon may have lost their last 5 games on the trot but they haven’t lost to a side placed below them in the league table all season.

Gravesend and Chichester battle it out in a game that could have real implications in the relegation battle while Hertford host East Grinstead in a game that could have real implications in the promotion battle. Both of these games are tricky to call and could go either way

With at least 3 of the following firmly in the “doubtful” category, here are my predictions for week 17 in league fixture list order.

Away win
Away win
Home win
Home win
Home win
Away win
Home win

Go BRFC