That's the Way !

After last week’s win over Tring when the match was won during a fifteen minute cameo spell from the whole team, this match showed that when they play rugby for 80 minutes Bracknell are a fine team. Despite the score line this was a hard fought victory against a side who although at the wrong end of the table never gave up, but unlike the match against Tring the home side never gave their opponents any encouragement to get back into the match.
The first try came after 6 minutes when a Mackenzie sidestep after good work from the backs wrong footed the Sutton defence for a try converted by Nowak. The next score came on 15 minutes after Sutton possession was wasted when a pass back into their own 22 was kicked to touch, the resulting lineout being much closer to the try line enabled the forwards to trundle a rolling maul 20 metres over the line for ap Dafydd to score a Bracknell trademark try again converted.

Sutton briefly threatened the Bracknell try line when some good interplay by the backs and a grubber kick through the posts was grounded by Oli Jones using the slippery surface to good effect to prevent a score, getting his leg stuck under the perimeter fence causing some concern as he gingerly extracted himself. A couple of good tactical kicks gained Bracknell ground the ball being put behind the defence, first by Manupenu and then Nowak, the ball kicked into touch by Sutton from which the lineout duly secured enabled Hoskins to skip round the blindside to score an unconverted try. Ten minutes later another try was scored by scrum half ap Dafydd, after a great off load from McKenzie, standing up in the tackle after good teamwork from Mackay and Graham Sparks (aka Sparksy). On the stroke of half time an almost identical try to the third was scored by Leo Bailey concluding the half 29-0 to the home side.

The scoring continued at pace in second half, the team keeping the scorer busy at regular intervals with Sutton desperately trying to keep the green tide at bay and although it was in vain they kept at the task to the final whistle. Rampant Bracknell scored again straight after the restart, after a fine run down the wing a pass inside to Mackay during the tackle enabling an easy run in under the posts. Bracknell were now scoring at will with the whole team looking to score, epitomized by Kenny Barry’s determination with a 5 metre surge, three Sutton players trying to prevent the inevitable, after winning a line out against the throw. Both these tries were converted in front of the posts. Not to be outdone fellow forward Graham Sparks powered over just wide of the posts after another very effective offload, judging by the celebration he was very happy, again converted to take the score to the half century.

The game seemed so one sided it appeared Bracknell would score with every attack and was almost disappointing when they didn’t. A couple of more chances went begging before the scorer was troubled again. McKenzie was tackled in to touch just short of the line, and a surging Mirza run was only just halted a metre or so from the try line. Bracknell could be forgiven for backing off a little at this point the crowd anticipating fully ten minutes for the expected next score, but it was worth the wait. McKenzie scoring his second of three after quick hands moved the ball down the backs from Oli Jones through Mackay to score, followed by a fine conversion from Nowak. With fifteen minutes to go McKenzie completed his hat-trick after a kick through by substitute Rudal Aiono, (who has returned to Bracknell after a short sabbatical down south) found Nowak just held up short of the line, the recycled ball finding its way out to the winger to score. Manupenu joined the score sheet to run in unopposed after some fine passing in the backs created the opening in the Sutton defence. With ten minutes remaining Bracknell created a few more scoring chances before the final converted try for a deserved Luke Carter who had a good game in his unaccustomed position on the wing. This converted score coming after some good phases of rugby right to the final minute.

After missing the game against Havant your reporter was pleased to witness this display of fantastic rugby, before the Havant game I hadn’t missed a home game for four or five years, having gone to Harlequins to see my ‘other’ team beat Northampton.

There were many a player on the day that were considered for Man of The Match (Rich Hoskins work like performance in the scrum and “sprint” for his try) or the constant “in your face” hassling by Nico Maybury and Tim Diack however it was decided by the “think tank” that this accolade for the day would go to Kevin “safe hands” McKenzie – well done and keep up the good work!

From the Chairman of Rugby’s perspective – good job to all 18 players, well done to each and every one, “it was fantastic to see every player enjoying their game and playing together as one”.