Bracknell Wright on the money

Bracknell Wright on the money
Bracknell RFC Colts 16 v Beckenham RFC Colts 7

Blond bombshell James Wright powered Bracknell’s DHL Academy to a fourth successive win with a breathtaking season’s debut at No 8 in which he rucked and mauled like a monster while still finding time to set up a match-clinching try.
Wright was the spear point in a forward display of control and aggression that proved too much for a gutsy but outgunned Beckenham side. DHL Academy Coach Martin Radford praised his team as it enters a crucial month of OBB League and National Plate games. “In terms of structured rugby, this was the best performance of the season so far,” he said. “The decision-making was near faultless, from 1 to 15, despite critical changes during the game. We were solid in defence and controlled the ball when we had to.”
Tries in each half from prop Dave Staunton and full-back Ben Blosse, plus two second-half Blosse penalties, were scant reward as the hard work of Bracknell’s pack was undermined by handling errors, offside calls, and infringements on the ground.
While Bracknell stuttered, Beckenham were also denied any momentum by a defensive screen that clamped shut like a steel jaw to stop the visitors playing their usual free-flowing game. In the end, despite having enough possession to do real damage, Beckenham were limited to a single try from centre Laud Andersen, converted by Liam Caddy at No 10.
Bracknell had broken the deadlock after eight minutes with a great lineout take by Chris Griffiths and a 20-metre drive from which Wright picked up and carried to just short of the line. Staunton was on post to scoop the ball up in his huge mit and plunge over.
Caddy had a chance to put Beckenham on the scoreboard with a long-range penalty after Bracknell strayed offside on 18 minutes but, even with a strong tailwind, his kick lacked the legs. Blosse showed Caddy just how to do it after the break as Beckenham conceded a penalty inside Bracknell’s half then gave the referee enough lip to bring it 10 metres forward. The full-back made them pay with a kick that was more like a golf drive for 8-0.
Beckenham hit straight back as Bracknell made a pig’s ear of another kick-off. Caddy received the ball in space and timed his pass to Andersen for the chunky centre to cruise to the posts. An easy conversion for Caddy brought it back to 8-7 with 40 minutes played.
Just as the Kent boys scented a chance, Radford shuffled his deck. He had already switched Cameron Boret and David Gaynor at 9 and 10 and given flanker Ben Thomas a well-earned rest by introducing Russell Jackman. Now he threw on hooker Luke Evans and lock Tim Ryan for fresh legs at a critical phase.
Yet it was man-of-the-match Wright who split the teams. The 6ft 2in Wellington schoolboy was the scariest sight of the Halloween weekend as he screeched off the back of a scrum like a peroxide bat out of hell. Gaynor carried the move on with a classy dummy and release for Blosse to race in at he right corner on 46 minutes to bring up 13-7.
Blosse could have inflicted more pain with another penalty of gargantuan dimensions, but it fell three metres short. But he made no mistake when right-wing Nathan Mannering was obstructed on 62 minutes, sinking the three points to leave Beckenham wanting two scores.
They almost got one with an overlap on the left, but Bracknell’s new blood was starting to pump and it was Evans who got across to nail the winger as the line beckoned. Beckenham switched the play right then knocked-on in midfield with three men over on the other wing.
It was their last chance as Bracknell’s pack took a savage hold and pinned Beckenham inside the 22. Only fantastic defending kept Bracknell out as Gaynor fed Jackman who was held up; Wright fed centre Dan Ryding on the crash but he was stopped short; Wright then came within inches of topping his display with a try; and Jackman again almost ploughed his way through. James Spiller, Chris Preston, and Dan Gyles - like Thomas, Griffiths and Ryan - laboured like Trojans as there was no shortage of thick-set heroes in green.
Beckenham Head Coach, Conrad Bool, said: “It was a spirited performance despite so many changes. It took us 20 minutes to get going but Bracknell’s midfield defence and their back row were just a little better on the day and that was the difference.”
David Ryan

SCORERS: Staunton (try) 5-0, 8min; Blosse (pen) 8-0, 39min; Andersen (try) 8-5, 40min; Caddy (con) 8-7, 40min; Blosse (try) 13-7, 46min; Blosse (pen) 16-7, 62min.