1XV earn bonus points with late surge

Bracknell welcomed Hornets RFC to Lily Hill Park for this penultimate home game of the season. Both sides needing vital league points to maintain their SW Premier status. Bracknell needed to be aware of Hornets sting, having been soundly defeated by them 47-17 in the away fixture.

Hornets kicked off attacking the clubhouse and their early pressure was rewarded with a try from second row C Harris, converted by fly half J Humphris.

Bracknell could not get into their phases the sound Hornets defence and unforced errors turning the ball over whenever Bracknell got into any promising positions. Hornets would extend their lead on the 20 minute mark, having secured the ball in the line loose head prop B Reseigh was able to steal the ball from Bracknell and cross the Bracknell try line for Hornets second try of the afternoon.

Hornets added to their lead with a penalty from fly half J Humphris before Ross MacDougall was sin binned on the half time break to cap a miserable half for Bracknell. Hornets kicking the resultant penalty.

Half time: Bracknell 0 Hornets 20

Despite Bracknell attacking their favoured clubhouse end, the opening exchanges of the second half continued in the same vein as the first. Hornets opening the second half scoring, second row C Harris crossing the Bracknell whitewash. J Humphris adding the extras to give Hornets a seemingly unsurmountable 27 point lead.

A sin binning reducing Hornets in numbers and with Vic Hardwicke off the replacements bench, some good Bracknell hands saw Vic Hardwicke dot down in the corner to finally get some Bracknell points on the score board.

With just over five minutes of the game remaining, a further Bracknell attach saw Juite Tupua held up short of the Hornets try line and the ball go into touch. Referee Alexander Marsh spotting that a Hornets player had deliberately knocked the ball in touch awarded Bracknell a penalty try.

Bracknell now enjoying their best patch of play of the game, a powerful break through the heart of the Hornets defence saw Giuseppe Salustri score under the Hornets posts. A quick drop goal conversion from Vic Hardwicke left Bracknell trailing by eight points.

There was still enough time in the game for Bracknell to score again and earn two bonus league points. Keeping the ball alive, a number of off loads saw Ross MacDougall score Bracknell’s final try of the day under the Hornets posts. Vic Hardwicke drop goaling the conversion.

Full time: Bracknell 26 Hornets 27 (Points: Bracknell 2 Hornets 4)

Head of Rugby Daniel ap Dafydd said after the game “The two bonus points hides the fact that we did not perform today, too many of the lads did not turn up but we hung in there and managed to get something out of the day.”

The result leaves Bracknell in 10th place in the league on 54 points, previously a total that would see a team safe from relegation. This season this may not be the case as Bracknell only have a four point lead over Newbury and Ivybridge below on 50 points in 12th and 11th place respectively with most teams still having three games remaining of the season. Bracknell and Ivybridge still having four games to play.

Next Saturday the 1XV travel to Devon to face Ivybridge in a re-scheduled fixture which will be crucial to both teams survival hopes.

Congrats to both the Stags and 3XV who recorded wins yesterday. The results leave both teams top of their BBO leagues and means that the 3XV have an eight point gap over second placed Reading with one game to play.

Bracknell: 1. Jonny Mirza 2. Michael Clarke (c) 3. Nick Ovens 4. Leo Bailey 5. Liam Goodison 6. Guiseppe Salustri 7. Ben Sanderson 8. Chris Halaufia 9. Ross MacDougall 10. Chris Laidler 11. Jiute Tipua 12. Peceli Nacamavutu 13. Ian Burch 14. Chris Wilson 15. Gabe Hills Replacements: 16. George Cotterell 17. Simon Hadad 18. Vic Hardwicke