Bracknell 19 – 38 Wimbledon

In the 150 years that Wimbledon RFC has been in existence they have never won a league game at Lily Hill – to be fair they have never played a league game at Lily Hill!!! We welcomed back to Lily Hill a few old faces in the Wimbledon squad and coaching staff including Wimbledon captain Neil Hallett who scored over 500 points for Bracknell in his time wearing the green shirt.

Bracknell started the game playing towards the clubhouse. In the starting line up was U17 scrum half Aly Walton making his 1XV debut. His influence on the game was almost immediate as a quick brake by him from the base of a ruck allowed Neil Higgins to pop the ball inside to Ian Burch to score under the posts. Conversion was kicked by Lachlan “John Eales” Valentine. 7- 0 to Bracknell with 5 minutes gone.

Wimbledon responded with a try from centre Aaron Lowe finding a large gap in the Bracknell defensive line. Conversion was kicked by Neil Hallett.

Bracknell converted some continuous pressure of the Wimbledon line into points. A number of driving mauls allowed Neil Higgins to cross the try line. Conversion was kicked by Lachlan Valentine. 14-7 to Bracknell with half an hour gone.

Collecting the ball from a Bracknell break Wimbledon countered and a deft kick from fly half Bryan Croke allowed back rower Capmbell Taid to re-gather the ball and send the fly half under the Bracknell posts. Conversion was kicked by Neil Hallett. 14-14.

A minute later Wimbledon took the lead, Neil Hallet scoring in the corner following a break by him down the Bracknell flank. He converted his own try. 14.-21.

There was still enough time on the clock for Bracknell to close the gap before half time. Jonny Mirza scoring in the corner after some sustained Bracknell pressure. This time the conversion just going wide. 19-21 at half time.

Into second half, Wimbledon extended their lead to 14 points with a two trys from winger Tommy Moore, the second coming from an interception.

With time up on the clock the crowd were treated to a foot race almost the length of the pitch, between Wimbledon’s Tommy Moore, seizing on another interception, and Bracknell full Ben Yates. Ben Yates winning the race bringing the winger down before the try line. Wimbledon managed to get enough players to the tackle to recycle the ball and score the game’s final try. Conversion was kicked by Neil Hallett.

Full time: Bracknell 19 – 38 Wimbledon (Points Bracknell 0 Wimbledon 5)

Bracknell’s failure to collect any points from the game has meant their lead over 12th placed Westcliff has reduced to 15 points with a maximum 20 points still available. They are next in action away at Gravesend on 2nd April.

Bracknell: 1:Joe Pickett 2:Stuart Silvester 3:Jonny Mirza ( c ) 4:James Wright 5.Leo Bailey 6:Jamie Rudkin 7:Liam Goodison 8:Lachlan Valentine 9:Ally Walton 10:Jack Conway 11:Ian Burch 12:Neil Higgins 13:Chris Brember 14:Stu Mackay 15:Ben Yates Subs: Tom Williams, Tom Deveraux, Lewis Dennet

Pete’s Predictions
No clean sweep this week. I foresaw Bracknell losing at home to Wimbledon – a game where both sides look dangerous in attack but Bracknell looked (and in fact were) more vulnerable in defence. I also thought the Westcombe Park v Irish game would be close and they don’t come any closer than a draw. This is Irish’s third draw of the season – having now drawn against each of the 3 other sides in the current top 4 (I should have predicted it really!). The game that really threw me though, was Colchester beating Shelford. 5 out of 7 is nothing to write home about – so Mum – don’t read this. (I think I’m safe enough there)

Promotion candidates.
So far on their tough run in to the season London Irish Wild Geese have picked up 6 points from a possible 10 which is good enough I believe, for them to make the playoffs even if they don’t retain top spot.

Rumour has it, although it’s not evident in the results on the pitch – that East Grinstead are in trouble. Not wanting to spread any unfounded rumours please skip past this bit. If this is the case though, the current top two are clear to fight it out.

Irish still have a tough trip to Hertford in 2 weeks’ time – a side who have lost only once at home this season (to East Grinstead) and then the following week Irish host my title favourites Tonbridge Juddian. That will be a real top of the table shoot out – a real 10 pointer – with the winner very likely to take top spot and automatic promotion – but by my calculations the loser will have a decent second chance in the playoffs

Win of the week
Although I have already given a strong hint on this one in my opening paragraph there are a couple of other contenders. Westcliff had a decisive win – albeit against Eton Manor – but it did keep their hopes of league survival alive. Hertford gave Guernsey a real thumping – the Channel Islanders’ biggest margin of defeat all season by a long way. It was Colchester however, who really upset the table placings, if not the form book. 2 rounds ago Shelford gained a losing bonus point for a 4 point home loss to high flying Tonbridge Juddian but this week they lost by a 6 point margin to bottom half of the table Colchester.

Colchester have certainly made an impression in their first season at level 5 and having shaken off any early season relegation concerns have built a very solid mid table position from which to push on next year. This week’s “Win of the Week” goes to Colchester

Relegation worries.
With Eton Manor relegated and Gravesend all but mathematically down the only question that remains is whether Westcliff can overhaul Bracknell. Their 5 pointer against Eton Manor was a must but they got it and Bracknell got nothing from their loss to Wimbledon. Because of their relatively poor points difference Gravesend need 16 points out of a possible 20 from the remaining 4 games assuming Bracknell get nothing out of the rest of the season. Bracknell would hope to scrape a point or two from Gravesend and – as chance would have it – Westcliff themselves, while Westcliff have the daunting task of a trip to Wimbledon and....rather interestingly....East Grinstead on the last game of the season. It certainly not done and dusted yet

Next week’s fixtures
Tonbridge have a not so straightforward trip the Guernsey while surely Irish can do what Colchester have just done and win against Shelford?

Westcliff need to get something out of a trip to Wimbledon but having been on the wrong end of a 50 point thrashing when Wimbledon travelled to the seaside in the reverse fixture earlier in the season the omens don’t look good

Bracknell have what appears on paper, to be their best remaining chance of picking up crucial points at Gravesend – but let’s not go counting any chickens…

Experience suggests that it’s not clever to have too many away wins on the list and there are certainly a couple that I’m unsure of but here we go with my predictions for week 23 in league fixture list order

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

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