A 4XV team of mixed experience took to the field against a solid well drilled Reading Abbey 4XVs in this TVIL “A” league match.

It was known that this would be a hard game for the 4XV the tenacity that the game would be played at was evident in the early hits and exchanges. Abbey tested the Bracknell line early on but a well drilled defence kept any score at bay.

With young Jake Findlay making his senior debut at Scrum half his quick alertness and passing to Fly Half and skipper Ben Radford saw Bracknell clear their lines effectively and progress into the Abbey half. Bracknell pressed for a score themselves, the Abbey defence was also hard to break down and they too duly kept any score out.

It wasn’t until a good run form the Abby backs saw the ball held up under the 4XV posts but with good ruck ball Abbey crashed over for the first score. Conversion missed 0-5. This gave the Abbey team a spring and further runs deep into the Bracknell half saw another score again the kick unsuccessful, 0-10.

Bracknell reacted well to this , hits were harder turn over ball achieved and they ventured into the Abbey half and looked like scoring anytime only to be thwarted at last minute. Unfortunately for the Bracknell side frustration got the better of them and a short period of giving away silly penalties crept into their game. Abbey took advantage of this and another score was added, once again the boots of the Abbey kicker had been left in the locker and so 0-15.

Skipper Ben Radford and coach PJ (playing at hooker!!) gathered their troops and got composure back into the side the penalties stopped. Bracknell started playing structured rugby again, abrasive running from Emanuel Hines and the ever present Alan Leishman carried the game to Abbey and their defence was again being tested to its full , a hard drive at the line saw a ruck develop a few metres out, it was indeed the old head of hooker PJ who smashed through from the back of the ruck to get the score deserved for Bracknell, Ben Radford converting 7- 15.
The pattern of the game continued with Bracknell increasing the intensity and going close again, but excellent cover tackling from Abbey preventing Bracknell narrowing the gap and half time the score remained 7-15.

Into the second half and neither side were to hold back. Crunching tackles by both sides and hard hits at every phase saw the game spend most of the second half in the middle of the park and only a clever kick from the Abbey fly half which managed to bounce and run. Bracknell winger Chris Samson under pressure doing all he could and clear into touch. From the lineout ball Abbey pressured and a break down the blind side saw their back row bludgeon over into the corner 7-20.

Though a margin down the spirit and attitude of the Bracknell was excellent and again they rallied and played good rugby. With good clearing in the ruck from the old heads of Darren Noakes, Mark Findlay and P.J young scrum half Jake Findlay got his backs away again. With Ben Radford using the good ball, the ball fed along the line for the evasive Simon Bayliss to run in a score albeit a teasing one for the home crowd as he danced among defenders behind the line for a while before putting the ball down ( Dick of the day ticket bought!). Ben Radford just missing 12-20 .

For the last quarter of the game play was much the same as early on , both sides attacking both sides defending well, most notable was wing Tom Youngs, tackling whatever was in front, back or to the side of him, time after time.

Alas a loose ball was picked up by the Abbey full back and he strode through a gap and scored . again no kick 15-25 and the final whistle.

A good game of rugby from both sides and Bracknell must take heart from this . A well drilled Abbey side whom the Bracknell gave a hell of a game considering many a new player , and a side that has not played much together. A few guys to mention …. Alan Leishman , always present and running the lineout and forwards well, …….P.J old maybe, but some big hits, working his opposite number and a nice try ( first one for the Club!) ,….. Darren Noakes and Mark Findlay dogged performances gave it their all , ……Emanuel Hines, great runs forward and abrasive ….debutant to senior rugby Jake Findlay , top game totally comfortable ….. Ben Radford skippering well and doing his all. …. Last but not least ..Man of match Tom Young’s for his impressive display in the tackle and great attitude.

Bracknell: PJ, Luke Beckingham, Tristan Carter, Rob Wright, Allen O'Brien, Ian Sutherland, Emanuel Hines, Christopher Heath Turrall, Alan Leishman, Mark Findlay, Darren Noakes, Nick Baracroft, Jake Findlay, Ben Radford (C), Chris Samson, Darren Payne, Simon Bayliss, Tom Youngs, Phil Wells, Tim Hopkins, John Boucher, Ajay Pipins.