Prior to Saturdays game Chairman of Rugby Martin Radford tweeted a picture of a rainbow over Regentsholme hoping that Bracknell’s pot of gold would be their first away win of the season.

Lydney have a long and distinguished history, which includes having had Lord Bledisloe (he of the cup fame) as a past president. With not such a long and proud history are John Moses and Ian Kennedy ex-1XV Bracknell payers, who having moved to the Wye valley area some time ago nevertheless came down to watch the game; it was great to see both of them!

For the first time this season Head of Rugby Daniel ap Dafydd was able to announce an unchanged side, from that which had defeated Exmouth the week before.

Bracknell started the game playing up the slight slope and into the breeze. It was Bracknell that would open the scoring with a Vic Hardwick penalty, capitalising on early pressure.

Lydney responded with pressure of their own and were rewarded with an unconverted try from scrum half Sam Arnott. Lydney took the lead with a try from blindside Kurt Brown; this time the conversion from fly half Ollie Locke was good, and Lydney led 12-3 with just over ten minutes of the game gone.

Half way through the half coming off a Bracknell line out in the Lydney 22, Ben Saunderson cut a line through the Lydney defence to score under the Lydney posts. Conversion from Vic Hardwick was good to bring a temporary hush over the home crowd.

With Bracknell enjoying territory Simon Haddad was able to convert into scoreboard points with a further Bracknell try converted by Vic Hardwick.

35 minutes gone , a high tackle by Michael Clarke saw him yellow carded, from the resultant penalty Ollie Locke reduced the Bracknell lead.

Down to 14 players Lydney pressed the Bracknell try line. Taking encouragement from the now vocal crowd referee Alex Marsh showed a further yellow card to Chris Hala'ufia. Fortunately for Bracknell, Lydney could not take advantage of the extra 2 men and the half time whistle was blown.

Half time: Lydney 15 Bracknell 17

Bracknell opened the second half scoring with a try from Gabe Hills finishing of move down the Lydney flank to score in the corner. Conversion by Vic Hardwick was good.

With Bracknell back to full strength, an Ollie Locke penalty reduced the Bracknell lead mid way through the half.

With 10 minutes remaining Bracknell inflicted the coup de grace. Following a series of rucks in the Lydney 22. the ball was sent along the back line, an excellent take by Jute Tupua saw him dragged down inches from the Lydney try line before Ross MacDougall, seeing a gap, dived over for Bracknell’s bonus point try. Conversion by Chris Laidler was good.

Full time: Lydney18 Bracknell 31 (Points: Lydney 0 Bracknell 5)

CoR Martin Radford said after the game “Not sure it was a pot of gold but a bonus point win at what is a difficult place to come; we could not have asked for anymore.”

The win sees Bracknell move up to 8th in the table and have a league record very much in equilibrium (4 wins, 4 losses and 1 draw). Elsewhere in the league the final unbeaten record fell as Dings lost at home to Camborne. Dings still remain top but by just 1 point from Newton Abbot in second spot.

Next Saturday Bracknell host Ivybridge (KO2.15pm) – there is a pre-lunch to enjoy before the game, to book contact Sue Field, Clubhouse Manager.

Finally well done to the Stags and the mighty threes as they both recorded fine wins in their BBO league games.

Bracknell: 1. Harry Challenor 2. Michael Clarke 3. Nick Ovens 4. Leo Bailey 5. Tom Scott 6. James Ingle (C) 7. Simon Haddad 8. Chris Hala'ufia 9. Ross MacDougall 10. Vic Hardwicke 11. Jiute Tupua 12. Peceli Nacamavuto 13. Ben Sanderson 14. Ian Burch 15. Gabe Hills Replacements: 16. Ed Whelan 17. Liam Goodison 18. Chris Laidler