Back on the Right road

Bracknell got back to winning ways against another first time visitor Dorking who after five matches into the campaign were top of the table. This match pitted third against fourth, and Bracknell needed the win to keep their promotion aspirations alive and they delivered with a bonus point win. Combined with other Saturday results results within the league this moved Bracknell back to second in the division, which can be consolidated away to Havant in the next fixture if Bracknell are to continue where they left off. Despite a sprightly start in the first five minutes this result did not look like coming in the first half with a couple of chances not taken when the ball was sent down the backs line. Of note, halfway through the first half Dorking were penalised for feeding the scrum, significant for its rarity in being given nowadays.

On the half hour Bracknell were looking likely to score again, after an exchange of penalties and territory, a penalty in Bracknell’s favour for holding on, after good pressure by Mckenzie led to Manupenu putting the home team in front. From this point forward Bracknell were looking good to score and five minutes before half time an excellent passing exchange on the wing between Mackay and Mckenzie led to a converted try to put Bracknell ten nil in front and looking comfortable. But has often been the case so far this season some sloppy play and poor decision taking Dorking secured a scrum on half way, chipped ahead and chased the ball down only to put pressure on full back Ollie Jordan and wing Ian Burch which led to a mix up which Dorking snapped up and scored under the posts.this completed the half.

In contrast to the first half the rest of the match was an entertaining affair, with Mackay capping a fine display of powerful running, scoring a converted try soon after the restart down the left wing. A further kicking exchange resulted in Mckenzie again making good progress down the wing, although the ball was spilt the resulting ruck retained the ball, a penalty was given against Dorking coming in from the side, Manupenu’s fine kick putting Bracknell further ahead. There again followed a series of kicks, kicking away possession, this led to another try for Mckenzie, his excellent pick up, wrong footing the Dorking defence. Bracknell’s final score came following another run down the wing, a ruck, a good lineout take, and Mckenzie completed his hat-trick, a magnificent kick from out wide converted the try.

This wasn’t the end of the match, as Dorking finally showed why they have been top of the table this season, putting the Bracknell defence under sustained pressure, which finally succumbed with more sloppy play in the corner when a loose ball should have been snaffled or collapsed on by full back Jordan would have been sufficient to deny Dorking a further score. This try was converted to complete the scoring, but Dorking put tremendous pressure on the Bracknell try line for the last ten minutes, Bracknell’s trade mark defensive resolution keeping the visitors at bay. With time running out a Dorking penalty was kicked to the corner, but to the relief of the home supporters, Bracknell won the lineout and the ball was duly despatched into touch followed immediately by the final whistle.

All in all a fine performance on the day. Bracknell will need to keep up the intensity and mantain 5 point winning margins should the quest for promotion continue.