All the effort in the world - but not the result we wanted.

After losing to Newbury RFC for the first time last season, our mission on Sunday was very much about restoring the natural order of things with a good win in our first league match of the season at Newbury’s home ground.

We had the wind behind us in the first half but despite this advantage and near complete dominance in the set pieces and at the breakdown, we simply could not break down the Newbury defence. Almost the entire half was played on the Newbury try-line but for once our potent outside backs could not break through. Credit in this regard must be given to the Newbury defenders who stood resolute in the face of wave after wave of attacks, seemingly immovable, until finally we were able to sneak a try on the stroke of half-time through Tim Cato.

The second half was the reverse of the first, with Newbury pinning us down on our try-line and with our defensive system seemingly left behind in the changing rooms, it was up to some magnificent scrambled defence that we were able to resist the tide for as long as we did but it was with a feeling of the inevitability of watching a car crash in slow motion that Newbury scored first one, and then another, to go into an unassailable lead and finish the game 14-5 ahead – a fair reflection of the game.

Some points are worth making from this epic clash of wills – at no point could I single out a single Bracknell player who was not putting in 120% effort at any stage of the game. Our boys played their hearts out but it was just not meant to be on the day. The important thing is that we take the lessons from this game and come back harder, faster and more experienced this weekend against Ensians who enjoyed their maiden win v Reading on Sunday. Ensians are a team with momentum and we cannot open the door even a crack for them this weekend or they will come storming through!

Also worth noting is that at 5-0 down, having given away a try on the stroke of half-time, conventional logic would have said that the Newbury boys would have been psychologically out of the game by that point. As it turned out, this could not have been further from the truth. They had merely weathered the storm of the first half and came back at us in the second with intent, and, in the final analysis were well deserved winners.

A final point also needs to be made, and that despite the closely contested nature of the game between two and big aggressive teams packed with county players, officiated as it was in a somewhat random manner, the attitude of the players on the pitch and the camaraderie between the two teams during and after the game was absolutely first class and a glowing example of the best that rugby union has to offer our young men.

Many thanks to Dave and his team of coaches for hosting us so graciously, and we look forward to returning the Newbury hospitality in the new year.

Kind regards,
Andy