Bracknell 27 - Tring 10

BRACKNELL head coach Ken Hopkins was singing the praises of his side this week after they picked up their first away bonus-point win of the season.

In-form flanker Kyle Lovell ran in a hat-trick of tries as the Lily Hill Park boys produced a second half fightback to overwhelm lowly Tring.

That allowed Bracknell to close the gap on second place Old Albanians to just two points ahead of a rare weekend off.

And, after two impressive wins, Hopkins believes his players have earned the right to have a rest.

He said: "The players thoroughly deserve the break, it has been a very intensive four and a half months since we got together in July.

On Saturday at Tring the wind played its part as Bracknell contained their hosts for the first half before romping clear with four tries after the break.

Tring's Tim Holgate ran in the only try of the first period while Bracknell's Jervis Manupenu and Tom Newton swapped penalties as the hosts led 10-3 at the break.

It was all Bracknell after half-time though, with Lovell scoring three tries and Stuart Mackay also crossing as the visitors cruised to victory.

Hopkins said: "It was the first match this season that has been seriously affected by the weather. There was driving rain and a howling wind across the pitch.

"The elements were against us in the first half and we were behind 10-3 at half-time, but we kept our patience and our composure.

"In the second half the pack got on top and we scored four good tries.

"You have to play percentage rugby and take your chances when they come along and that is what we did on Saturday.

"We should not have been 10-3 down at half-time. They scored a good solo try, but other than that we defended very well. It was our best away performance of the season.

"Our three losses have been close games that could have gone either way, so it was important to put in a performance like that away from home."

After this weekend's break Bracknell travel to rock-bottom Sutton & Epsom.

Bracknell: Mirza, Surman, Kemsley, Borcherds, Barry, Sparks, Lovell, Maybury, Ap Dafydd, Manupenu, Jordan, Nowak, Mackay, Burch, Astbury. Replacements: Hoskins, Cole, Bramley.