A Win out West

With players falling out left, right and middle even up to an hour before KO, there was much uncertainty as to how many players would be showing up at Hungerford, but we managed 16 by the start of the game and with some gentle persuasion found two wings with Jonty and Alex stepping out to the wide areas (really, who wouldn’t want to play in the backs???).

In a welcome change from most games this season, there was no early try conceded, and to be fair, not even the risk of an early try against us, as the boys started very strongly with Max and Sam making some good bursts. Bracknell’s game was very simple, winning quick ball at the breakdown, and moving it quickly away, and keeping the ball moving through the hands.

Given that only Josh, Joe and Tim existed from the previous week’s back line, and indeed only Kyle and Adam continued amongst the back 5 in the scrum, the way the game flowed right from the start was very impressive.

With one strong break from their big No8 apart, most of the game was with Bracknell, and Sam crossed for two tries in relatively quick succession, as a result of consistent recycling of the ball, quick hands, good running lines and support. Again, very simple skills done well as a team.

So, with Joe adding a conversion, we were 12 minutes into the game and 12 points up. Thereafter, and for the remainder of the game it became a very close fought affair. Hungerford roused themselves, realised that they had the slope of the pitch in their favour and started constructing good plays and strong runs of their own, and putting some concerted pressure upon Bracknell.

Probably for the first time this season, the boys up front came up against a very well drilled scrum that started to dominate, winning their own ball, and regularly disrupting Bracknell ball, and as a result we started to find it difficult to break out of their half. Bracknell defended very strongly, and whilst Hungerford had the benefit in the scrums, that Bracknell pack were quite superb at the breakdowns, with Adam, Tom and Kyle winning good turnovers. Hungerford deservedly grabbed an unconverted try shortly before the break, although even then it was a close call, with the Bracknell defenders, Joe and Tim in particular, coming close to holding the ball up.

The half finished with an encouragingly strong scrum form the Bracknell pack, who clearly felt that they had to show Hungerford that they would not have it all their own way up front.

Ultimately then the second half was scoreless, although it was only on later reflection that anyone noticed, as the second 25 was a real ding-dong affair, with Hungerford desperately striving for an equalising score, and Bracknell defending strongly, whilst searching for a third way through and/or around the Hungerford defence. It all went in a bit of an “all-action” blur really, but the stand out memories are of more excellent Breakdown work from the Bracknell pack, with regular interventions from Max and Sam in particular. Tom seemed to find himself with ball in hand at almost every other pass at one point, and never failed to make good ground. Seth and Kyle both made telling bursts, with Kyle being particularly disruptive on the Hungerford lineouts. Out wide, Tim, Sam and Max all ran well testing and stretching the Hungerford defence, whilst Josh and Joe both made good ground closer in.

A number of times, the last pass just failed to materialise, although this was the same for Hungerford and was testament to the tackling work on both sides.

So the game finished at 12-5 to Bracknell, and was certainly a close fought and entertaining affair that could have gone either way in the second half. The game was really won early with the two scores, and then if not controlling the game, then certainly controlling the score for the remainder of the match, with both defences coming out on top despite the best efforts of the teams’ attacking intent.

Thanks to our hosts for a good game, and particularly for the home made lasagne and local ales in front of the open fire. A very civilised way to spend a Sunday morning.