With numbers good at training and able to put out both the 3s and 4s with replacements , the mighty 3s were hoping to gain a win against a Maidenhead side who were a bit of a bogey team last season, defeating Bracknell at home by the narrowest of margins.

Confidence was good in the camp after a good team run through on Thursday evening , and a back line that had all had second team experience and even featuring Bracknell stalwart Ben Nowak at inside centre.

The strength of this back line was to show early on and Bracknell raced into a 14-0 lead within 15 minutes after good strong basic handling in the backs and some slick finishing off.

This saw Maidenhead change their tactics and try their all too familiar pattern of trying to ‘boss up front’ and keep the ball in their large bulky forwards. Bracknell were not to be driven on the back foot and were more than a match for the Maids pack, with Alan Leishman no 8 and the young front row of Luke Beckingham, Rob Wright and Jake Parker, and Emanuel Hines at 7 crashing into the Maidenhead pack constantly, driving them back and often getting turn over ball. The olds heads of Maidenhead had to re-think. The new plan appeared to be spoiling and breaking up any play that Bracknell had by handling in the ruck , laying over the ball , tackling from off side position, BUT nothing was seen by the referee. In fairness to Maids they played to the whistle and were successful stemming any further scores by Bracknell.

From one such play Maids managed to gain the ball and a rare gap appeared for them which they scored and converted to bring the score close at 14-7. Maidenhead grew in confidence from this and pushed hard at Bracknell`s line, but the Bracknell the defensive line was at its best and the green wall would not be broken . Maids were pushed back time after time, with crunching tackles and a well drilled and managed defence. Bracknell even managed to turn over ball three times and the onslaught petered out.

Immediately Bracknell got into game plan and another good ball by Bracknell skipper Ben Radford at scrum half saw quick ball for another backline move resulting in a try again from the wing - 21-7.

Then there was a turning point in the game when 3s centre Nathan Mannering put in (what all saw as a fantastic) a tackle , only to be sinned binned for tackling a man in the air , unfortunately it was when Nathan hit his opposition with such venom and timing that the victim folded in half and his feet left the floor. Coincide a man short, a player injured and some harsh decisions going the wrong way , and the game swayed Maids way, and they hit a bit of a purple patch, scoring two tries and a penalty to go 21-24 up.

Composure was key for Bracknell, they got themselves together, and steadied the game and with a man short still looked a team capable of putting any team in their league to the sword.
So now at full strength and conceding 14 points when short and feathers ruffled Bracknell again started to play good rugby, skippered well and with a mix of experience and youth , several attacks were manufactured. Coach PJ used his interchanges and fresh legs knocked on the Maids door, surely a score would come? .. Maidenhead put in some last ditch tackles and thwarted attack after attack, but unlike Bracknell ,were not fit enough to keep this defence up and what was to be the winning try came in the corner after the gaps opened in the stretched Maids defence, Ben Radford again converting 28-24.

With the game now being played constantly in the opposition half , and minutes remaining Bracknell came close again , young Full back Joe Price having a good game, joining the line often, and only a scramble and a boot from the full back stopped a score.

With the ball out the referee blew the whistle and a satisfying win and the points were Bracknell`s.
Considering this Bracknell side had not played much together, it was a good performance , the defence was strong and well drilled, game management from the full back and wings steady and precise, the pack of youth and experience never took a backward step, and team discipline was pleasing.

So 5 pts back and a positive start to the season. GOBRFC!!

Bracknell: Rob Wright, Jake Parker, Luke Beckingham, Rob Munro, Wes Bullock, Emanuel Hines, Alan Leishman, Cobi, Ben Radford (C), George Elliot, Ben Nowak, Nathan Mannering, Simon Bayliss, Joe Price , Kai, Scotty Walters, Adam Francis