Bracknell go down at the woods today!

But despite the setting it was a remarkably similar pattern to the previous weeks last gasp win at Ealing. The Bracknell boys and specifically Theo, came within a few feet of pulling off another eleventh hour comeback in the amongst the trees at Reeds Weybridge.

With a healthy turn-out of 24 players there were plenty of options this week and for the first 10 minutes or so, it did appear that we may be needing all of the boys on the pitch at the same time, if we were to get anything out of this game.

With the exception of Tom D, the forwards started the game in slowish fashion which made Reeds’ efforts a little easier than it should have been, and the most surprising aspect of the game was that they took almost the whole of the first quarter to score their opening try. As so often happens it takes a couple of hefty interventions by individuals to galvanise the team, and so, with Josh W, Lewis and Ryan showing the way, the boys started to compete, and more importantly, started to secure our own ball at the breakdowns.

Behind the pack, the backs also appeared oddly out of sorts, and as the game started in a mini hailstorm, one would have expected the handling to be difficult, but as the half progressed, the sun came out giving the pitch the feel of a glade better suited to picnics than a tough game of rugby. Perhaps it was this then, that affected the concentration, as passes went astray and balls were dropped and fumbled, whenever we found ourselves with good attacking opportunities.

The biggest surprise though was that we reached half-time at only 0-5 down, as despite having the wind and the slope in our favour, Reeds were very much the better team in the first 25 minutes.

So half time came, and the boys were dealt a blow with Tom H having to retire from the game with an injured leg, after having tried bravely to run it off for the last 5 minutes of the first half.

The second half started rather badly when Reeds scored again, just squeezing in at the corner despite the best efforts of Josh J. Things then got a little worse as both Josh and Max H had to leave the pitch with shoulder injuries sustained in defending the build up to Reeds second try. Shortly afterwards, Reeds scored a very good third try, when their powerful – and quick – centre burst through the defence and ran in from around half way.

So with 3 players out injured, 3 tries to nil down and playing up the slight slope and into the wind, the Bracknell boys started to get a hold of the game. The forwards started winning their own ball at the breakdowns and seriously disrupting the opposition ball, in the backs, Max R, Oscar and Theo started to threaten with their running and indeed Theo was only denied on a couple of occasions with last ditch tackles stopping him from escaping down the right.

Up front; Kyle, Harry, Callum and Daniel did well at the scrums, whilst Tom and Ryan caused havoc at the lineouts, and in the loose where they both made good ground whenever they had the ball in hand.

So shortly after Reeds had gone 15-0 up, the comeback started. An excellent run by Max ended with him being bundled into touch by a good cover tackle close to the line. From the resulting line-out, Tom stole the ball and forced his way over the line for his first, and long deserved, try for the club. From wide out, Oscar then nailed a very good conversion to really give the boys some impetus.

So despite being against the elements, Bracknell took charge of the remainder of the game, and despite some top defence from Reeds, they pulled a second try back just 3 minutes from full time. Sounds familiar? Taking the ball in midfield, Max R stepped inside his opposite number and set of around their forwards and sprinted into the corner for a fine individual try, and pull it back to 12-15. This time, there was (fortunately) no talk of drop goals, but instead a determination to repeat the finale of the week before and nail the win.

Kick –off secured, forwards driving the ball into Reeds territory, and with the defence retreating, Joe takes the ball blind on the right, dummies the wing, draws the cover and then sets off Theo for his run to the line, and a glorious repeat of the previous weeks winning try. Two players beaten, but the third just slows him down enough, to enable the cover to reach him, and he is felled agonisingly short of the line. Reeds win a penalty at the breakdown, and kick it into touch for the end of the game.

All in all, a good game against well matched and competitive opponents who were playing several of their A team, and won the game courtesy of a far better first 30 minutes or so, and then very good defence to just keep Bracknell at bay. A good run-out for the boys final Berkshire league game next week, and we wish Max, Josh and Tom speedy recoveries from their various knocks.