Once or twice a season Bracknell RFC holds a pre-match lunch with the main theme being that of getting former players back to catch up on old times. Unfortunately, it’s often the case that due to Bracknell’s rather erratic history in the league structure, getting ex-players to attend a lunch when the game is against a side they have played against themselves can be somewhat difficult to achieve.

It won’t be the case for all those former players who attended this Saturday but several have had past experience of today’s opponents Chippenham RFC. The story of Paul Rendall’s “dry as a bone” coat going missing is legendary in both camps with various conflicting versions of the truth.

There may not be the intense rivalry of a game against Reading or Maidenhead but Bracknell has met Chippenham many times in the past and at least Chippenham are with us in the National Leagues this season which can’t be said for the others this season or next.

There was something to play for, for both sides in the contest with Bracknell seeking a play-off spot and Chippenham fighting against relegation so the pre-match expectation, given Chippenham’s recent form in winning 2 of their last 3 games suggested a hard fought game.

Unfortunately for the visitors they struggled in the scrums from the word go and any hopes of a win were snuffed out early on as Bracknell scored two tries in the first 10 minutes and went into the half time dressing room with 4 tries and the 5 point win they needed. 24 – 0.

Open running and quick recycling of the ball in the first half led to tries from Stuart MacKay, Ian Burch and Nico Maybury, topped off after 35 minutes with a good old fashioned catch and drive by the forwards and scored by Stuart Silvester. New young kicker Ben Nowak, brought into action due to the recent return of Liam Prescott to his old club London Irish Wild Geese, slotted 2 conversions from 4.

The restart brought no respite with the home side adding a fifth try within 3 minutes but that was to be the end of the onslaught. Untypically for this season’s Bracknell game structure they contrived to allow the away side a good period of possession and whatever break outs Bracknell were to contrive were wasted by passing to ball back to the opposition. A yellow card for Jonny Mirza and a flurry of substitutions seemed to unsettle the side and Bracknell lost their edge.

This mid part of the second half saw Chippenham score 2 tries, albeit one from an interception, to give them the faint hope of a comeback but a Bracknell try late on just confirmed their overall dominance of the contest. Full time 43 – 12.

I look on Chippenham, along with a few other sides, as clubs that Bracknell have “snuck up behind and ambushed”. When we were level transferred from the league we are currently in, to London leagues we eventually got relegated, got level transferred back to South West leagues and then were promoted last season into this league where a few sides were unaware of our credentials. On that basis – Chippenham were well and truly ambushed today.

Bracknell – Jonny Mirza, Stuart Silvester, Jack Petelo, Ollie Taylor, Kenny Barry, Matt Brambley, George Milligan, Nico Maybury (C), Daniel Ap Dafydd, Daniel Antonelli, Ian Burch, Joe Price, Ben Nowak, Chris Brember, Stuart Mackay. Subs – Leo Bailey, Jonny Baugh, Neil Higgins, Eli Strong, Glynn Mosses

Pete’s Predictions

Lydney had a stern test of character in their trip to Newton Abbot last week when they came from behind with time running out to seal a 14 – 16 win with the last conversion. This week however, their 51 unanswered points at Barnstaple blew away any other sides’ performance in north Devon – and with it, any chance of giving the chasing sides a sniff of hope.

Similar bonus point home wins for Redingensians and Bracknell mean that the playoff contenders remain unchanged but it should be noted that Bracknell being placed second is an error in the table and The Rams’ superior point difference puts them in second place. The sides behind these 2 have for all intents and purposes, lost touch.

At the bottom, Old Pats look even more vulnerable to being caught after losing against fellow relegation battlers Avonmouth Old Boys. Old Centralians secured their first result away from home with a draw at Amersham and Chiltern, while Chippenham still have to play Old Pats at home.

Next week sees Old Cents against AOB - one of a few relegation battle “10 pointers” still to come.

Bracknell has an ominous trip to Lydney next week for a game that could open a bit of daylight between themselves and Redingensians unless they put in the performance of the season. The Rams should see off Worcester at home.

GO BRFC