Bracknell 23 - 14 Worcester Wanderers

Bracknell faced two challenges at Lily Hill Park this weekend – the first of which was organizing the celebration of the opening of their refurbished changing room facilities in the company of their MP and local council dignitaries and the second was debatably the more important issue of dealing with a Worcester Wanderers side who, after an inauspicious start to the season have improved sufficiently to have won 3 of their last 4 games and as a result are thinking more about the top of the table than worrying about the relegation zone.

After 17 minutes however, the home side were 15 – 0 up and cruising, but it is open to question as to whether this was because they were the better side or whether the opposition had simply not touched the ball. Whatever the truth was, Worcester seemed to be unable to stop Bracknell’s rolling maul and there appeared to be every prospect of a convincing home win.

With this in mind, and given the league position that Bracknell find themselves in, the home supporters may now be allowed to have one criticism of their side in that they don’t “put sides away”. While the comfort of the 15 point cushion allowed Bracknell to feel that the game was in the bag a lively Wanderers side had other ideas and kept the home side on their toes right up to the last few minutes of the game.

Soon after the game had started and only seconds after the visitors had conceded a 4th minute yellow card for illegally attempting to prevent a try, George Milligan crossed the line at the back of a maul for a rampant home side that Liam Prescott would convert for an early 7 – 0 lead.

Just 4 minutes later Stuart Mackay powered over on the left touchline for a second try for a 12 – 0 lead that Liam Prescott was unable to improve.

The next incursion into opposition territory resulted in a penalty that allowed Liam Prescott to extend the early lead still further. 15 – 0.

At this point Worcester managed to secure some possession, showed that they could work some phases and started to get themselves back into the game. Their first score came after a number of well worked phases, but the critical line break occurred as Bracknell’s Joe Price succumbed to a hamstring injury that would not only finish his game but would allow space on the right for Wanderers to work a gap and score sufficiently close to the posts for the conversion to be a matter of course. This took the score to 15 – 7 where it remained until the half time whistle.

The start of the second half saw Bracknell take control of both possession and territory but the Worcester defence held firm. At a point when they may have reverted to the tried and tested rolling maul for results, Bracknell were punished for repeatedly throwing the ball wide by an interception that was run 70 metres for a touchdown that was easily converted from under the posts. Although this appeared to be against the run of play the scoreboard told the stark reality of a 15 – 14 score line with 20 minutes to play.

To their credit, Bracknell shook off the set back of the interception try and regained control of a competition that they had always really had the upper hand in. As much as lineouts had been a bit of a lottery and Bracknell failed to take advantage of their early dominance in the scrum the game was theirs to be won and further consistent pressure in opposition territory lead to another Liam Prescott penalty and a try for the ever young Ben Nowak to take the score to 23 – 14 with time running out for the Midlands side to turn the game around.

Worcester turned down the late opportunity of a penalty that might have secured a losing bonus point – presumably in favour of a try that would pressurise the home side into last minute errors but the score was to stay at 23 – 14.

After the early signs of a possible “thrashing” the home support had to be content with a 4 point win whereby Bracknell retain their position of 3rd in the table after 7 games.

Bracknell – Jonny Mirza, Joe Clapson, Ken Dowding, Kenny Barry, Ollie Taylor, Matt Brambley, George Milligan, Nico Maybury (C), Daniel Ap Dafydd, Daniel Antonelli, Ian Burch, Joe Price, Ben Nowak, Stuart Mackay, Liam Prescott. Subs – Jack Petello, Josh Webb, Tom Saunders, Phil Lee

Pete's Predictions

With a rather predictable win at home for Lydney, I can report that out of our 4 nearest rivals for second spot (Not giving up – just being conservatively realistic) who played away from home this week, only 2 of them returned back home with wins under their belts. It’s no surprise however, that these are the “Reds” and the “Rams “– in my opinion, (for what that is worth) our real rivals for the playoffs. Of course others may disagree (Brixham perhaps) but I’m here to be shot at…

I’m unable to watch Bracknell’s next 2 games – Brixham at home and Chippenham away – so I’m really going to stick my neck out and make the very rash prediction that when I come back from holiday – and before we take to the park for what should be a very stirring encounter against Lydney – Bracknell should still be in 3rd place – if not 2nd. Which one will depend on the “Reds” v “Rams” result on the day we play at Chippenham.

While preparing for large portions of humble pie if I’m wrong – GO BRFC!!!