Bracknell travelled to Old Redcliffians still harbouring faint hopes of a playoff spot but the Bristol side have excellent home form this season being the only side to have beaten Lydney and having held The Rams to a draw so Bracknell would need to be at their very best. Home advantage was further bolstered by winning the toss and the home side predictably elected to save the potent combination of wind and slope for the second half.

The Bracknell faithful who had travelled down the M4 were of the opinion that a 15 point lead at half time would be the minimum required and the first set back to this goal came after only 2 minutes when the opening exchanges saw Old Reds score in the corner for an early 5-0 lead.

Bracknell then dominated territory and possession for the next 37 minutes of play but were rather profligate with their opportunities. A catch and drive chance went begging and a number of attacks down the side lines fell a few metres short. After a Ben Nowak penalty the first try actually started from their own half when Bracknell’s man of the match Nico Maybury shot off the back of a scrum and made it all the way to the opposition 22 before popping an overhead pass to the only green shirt in support Chris Brember who still had plenty to do to hold off a number of defenders before touching down. Conversion missed 5 - 8.

Psychologically, it must be difficult to understand how important it is to put points on the board when you are dominating the opposition in the way that Bracknell were but the points just didn’t come in great enough number. The half was nearly over when pressure deep in the 22 resulted in a charge down and Nico Maybury was on hand in the in goal area to pounce on the bobbling ball. Ben Nowak’s conversion was successful 5 – 15.

Bracknell had eventually scored 15 points but had let slip a try and in the 39th minute Old Reds got close enough to snatch a penalty. The lead was always looking thin as the first half came to a close at 8 -15.

Predictably, a different side rolled out in the second half as the red shirts upped their game. Frustratingly, while in possession of the ball Bracknell lost Ken Dowding to the sin bin after just 2 minutes and then lost their slender lead after just 4 minutes as the home side rolled out their well drilled downhill game plan which resulted in a converted try. 15 – 15.

Bracknell retook the lead with a penalty almost immediately but it didn’t last for long as Old Reds scored again 5 minutes later to take the score to 22 – 18. With Ken Dowding back on the field it is fair to say that Bracknell had the home side worried for the remainder of the game. Bracknell edged the scrums and halted the downhill tide with a number of skirmishes into their opponents 22 but as happened in the first half too many opportunities went begging. The final whistle went as Bracknell blew their last lineout chance from only 5 metres out and that lack of precision cost them the game. 22 – 18.

Old Reds jubilantly retained their unbeaten home record and thwarted Bracknell playoff hopes but in the battle of the newly promoted sides that started in the very first game of the season at Lily Hill Park, Bracknell have edged the head to head games by 6 points to 4. The difference between the 2 sides is that Bracknell took bonus points from their away loss and their home win when Old Reds took none. This reflects the whole season with Old Reds having the lowest accumulation of bonus points in the league with just 6.

Bracknell – Jonny Mirza, Stuart Silvester, Ken Dowding, Leo Bailey, Kenny Barry, Matt Brambley, Jonny Baugh, Nico Maybury (C), Lewis Franklin, Daniel Antonelli, Chris Brember, Joe Price, Ben Nowak, Stuart Mackay, Andy Slade. Subs – Ollie Taylor, George Milligan, Rory Greenslade-Jones

Pete’s Predictions

There is little left to predict at the top of the table with the top 3 of Lydney (promoted), Redingensians (away playoff at Old Elthamians) and Bracknell in 3rd some 24 points clear of Brixham in 4th. The one remaining prediction I can make is that home advantage will be enough to edge the playoffs.

At the bottom of the table however it is still not yet settled. Old Cents have won their last 2 games including a notable win at Brixham so with 2 games left to play they can still overhaul both Worcester (3 games left) and Old Pats (2 games left). The permutations are too many to list but Old Cents may still come to regret not fulfilling that fixture at Reading at the end of last season and the subsequent burden of the 5 point deduction they have carried throughout this season’s campaign.

Today was a disappointing result for Bracknell who now need to finish with a bang at Worcester next week and carry some impetus into the Berkshire Cup Final, the date of which is still to be agreed. Please make the effort to support the boys on their final outing of the league season at Sixways on Saturday 19th April

GO BRFC!!!!!