Grove III 22 - 45 Bracknell III

With several players unavailable from the previous week the three’s travelled to a side that lying bottom of the table. Grove had called off couple of games late because they could not raise a team but had two weeks previous beaten a Slough 2nds 40 odd to nil. So Grove were going to be a bit of an unknown quantity.

With all the pre match disruptions the three’s were slow coming out of the blocks. The first 15 minutes saw Bracknell making several mistakes and playing more as individuals than a team. Grove were looking stronger that a team that were languishing at the bottom of the table and pressed hard. To Bracknell's credit the defence looked strong and held out. Skipper, Jon Bullett, began to rally his troops and soon the shape seen in previous weeks started to come back into the Bracknell's play. After several attacks into the Grove half Bracknell took the lead with a try, and the conversion followed to make it 7-0 in their favour. The simple rugby at pace that Bracknell had produced over the past few weeks was lacking and as Bracknell's concentration dropped, Grove scored a try to make it 7-7.

This jolted Bracknell, and an element of panic set in which led to several further errors. However, once again Bracknell settled and started to play to the game plan and the rugby that they are so capable of. When they did so they looked way too strong for Grove. This resulted in two scores and at half time Bracknell were 19-5 up.

Half time saw a couple of changes in the backs , and a stern talking to from both coach and skipper reminding the side of where they were how they had achieved it and what this day was about.

The second half started much as the first , somewhat scrappy. Grove ventured for a rare moment into Bracknell's half to score but missed an easy conversion, to make the score 19-12.

The threes finally began put some possession together and go though their drills. Although the Grove defence stood strong, Bracknell were now by far the dominant side, but still made the wrong decisions at crucial times and tries went a begging. However Bracknell still managed to extend their lead and make it 26-12, but yet again a lacks in concentration saw Grove peg the score back, 26-17.

The final 25 minutes saw Bracknell play the best rugby of the day and in quick succession tries were manufactured , the score line now out of reach for Grove at 38-17. With 5 minutes to go, Bracknell scored another well worked try under the Grove posts, taking the score line to 45-17. Bracknell continued to play out the game but an unfortunate bounce and a slip saw Grove get the final score . Notwithstanding this, the game and bonus point were Bracknell’s! Final score 45-22 in their favour.

A win for Tommy !

So seeing Tadley lost, the ‘Mighty Threes’ are now 9 points clear at the top of the league , and though not their best performance of the season they still managed to score 45 points away from Lily Hill , and secure another bonus point.

Bracknell - Steve Reid ,Nicholas O'Brien , Martin Cooper , John Boucher, Farook Naji, Barry Dwyer, Ben Radford, Jake Parker, Simon Brambley, Dave Rosi, Richard Rosi, Stefano Rosi, Chris Samson, Tom Youngs, Luke Beckingham, Jon Bullett (C), Alan O'Brien, Lee Woods, Sam Vass.