It’s been a few years since Bracknell have met Redingesians in the league and 26 years since they last had the opportunity to celebrate a win. It’s therefore only fair that the Rams, as they now want to be known, celebrated their rather strange combination of a league and Berkshire Cup double against their somewhat friendly rivals with a sense of satisfaction.

I say friendly rivals because Bracknell and Redingensians (in the writer’s opinion) seem to have had more a competitive companionship rather than a bitter rivalry whereas the relationships with Reading and Maidenhead have been different. Things are changing however, and Redingensians are now looking to make the break and become the best side in the area. I think Bracknell will may something to say about that.

With the dual reward of cup and league points up for grabs the 2 sides went about their work with typically brutal abandon. Bracknell had the first opportunity but Liam Prescott put too much effort into a long range penalty attempt and it fell short and wide. The Rams then opened the scoring after several phases that left Bracknell undermanned on the left to score a try that was well converted by Spike Chandler. 7 – 0.

The next 15 minutes of play saw a rather bizarre combination of yellow cards and missed penalties. The referee, obviously trying to stamp his authority on the game dismissed Bracknell’s Jonny Mirza and Ram’s Steve Bryant (ex-Bracknell 2011) for technical offences but the resultant penalties were missed.

Unfortunately, a wild flailing arm from the Ram’s captain Owen Root failed to attract the ref’s attention and it was only when the line judge intervened that Root was reprimanded. A penalty with no further action would prove to be fortunate later in the game.

Good work from the scavenging George Milligan led to him to being brought down 5 metres from the Ram’s line and in the resultant confusion the ref adjudged the Ram’s scrum half as being intentionally offside and produced yet another yellow. Bracknell wisely opted to kick the short distance to touch for a lineout where their catch and drive then required creditable patience to shrug off a number of defensive counter attacks by the Rams before Ken Dowding scored his second try in 2 games. Liam Prescott converted 7 – 7 at half time

In the first half it was apparent that the Rams had the bigger pack and Bracknell struggled to clear out the larger men from breakdowns. Bracknell’s concern at half time was how this would affect their ability to defend for the second half.

As it turned out it was Bracknell who scored first in the second half with Ian Burch getting around the Rams defence to find the ever present Nico Maybury who made great yards on the left before a deft pop to the young Ben Nowak for the first score of the half. The missed conversion left the visitors with a crowd quietening 7 – 12 lead

Rams were then allowed to trim the lead by 3 points from a penalty awarded against an innocuous tackle on a player who was already going to ground which was adjudged to be “high and dangerous”. How fine the line is upon which these decisions are made! 10 - 12.

The Rams, on a roll, then scored a well worked try through the backs starting with a break by the fly half which led to a try wide on the left that was unconverted. 15 – 12.

Over a period of time the home side turned the screws and built a considerable amount of pressure but Bracknell’s defence held firm until Liam Prescott’s efforts to protect Stuart Mackay as he fielded a high ball was seen as another technical infringement that warranted a yellow card. Although wide on the right Spike Chandler took the 3 points to make it 18 – 12 which turned Bracknell’s recent lead into a fight for a losing bonus point.

The final appearance of the ref’s yellow card was a warranted showing to the Rams captain for a lazy “cheap shot” shoulder charge on the Bracknell’s no 10 Daniel Antonelli after which the Rams had to be glad that the line judge’s previous intervention for his foul play had only attracted a penalty when many expected a card.

Whereas Bracknell’s bonus point had been in question for a while the visitor’s spirit came to the fore and in the last 10 minutes of the game the Rams found themselves fighting for survival. In such a low scoring game the realisation that Bracknell could just sneak a win from one converted try seemed to debilitate the home side and an away score became a realistic proposition. Sadly, a dropped ball after a successful lineout take thwarted Bracknell’s opportunity and a relieved Rams side were glad to get the ball off the field and hear the final whistle

The league table shows Bracknell in 4th place. Thanks to our 2 bonus points we only drop from 3rd to 4th so that has to say something about the competitiveness of league we are in.

Most sides have played home and away now which should balance things up a bit so those who have lost twice beware – those who have won twice - good for you.

(Bracknell Mirza, Fillier, Dowding, Barry, Bailey, Brambley, Milligan, Maybury (c), ap Dafydd, Antonelli, Mackay, Nowak, Brember, Burch, Prescot, Reps Taylor, Alono, Higgins, S Bullett)

Predictions
Lydney in 1st are going to take some beating. Amersham and Chiltern in 2nd have had 2 home games so that may be a freak – we’ll see, but I hear they have spent some money. We’re in 4th and personally, if we finish there I’ll but Rory a pint. Weston–super–Mare, who we play at home next week are a good side so we need all the support we can get. My hope is that the 3 sides at the bottom, Centralians, Avonmouth and Worcester stay there all season, but look at Old Redcliffians – we beat then comfortably last week – and after a win at home they are 6th

The rest are yet to show what they can do but you can guarantee some very tough trips to the West Country

It’s early days with a long way to go but I’m encouraged by todays’ bonus point loss against a side that have been in the top half of this table for several years on the trot.

Let’s do what we can to support Bracknell 1st XV at home and on the road because in a league as tight as this we need all the help we can get. See you at the next game!