This week we headed into Oxfordshire for our next OBB league match, knowing that a win against bottom-placed Bicester would cement our place in the top 3 heading into the business end of the season. We had a few forwards missing due to half term, but confidence was high as we kicked off, uphill and into the wind.
After the first few exchanges, we strung a few passes together and Scott broke through 3 weak tackles on the right wing to score under the posts. Fin converted and that set the pattern for much of the rest of the game. The same sequence was repeated a few minutes later for another Scott try/Fin conversion, and we were 0-14 ahead after 10 minutes. Shortly afterwards, another surge down the right side resulted in a yellow card for a Bicester prop after a high tackle on Ali, and some good interchange play followed resulting in Zac scoring out wide. Fin couldn't quite manage to convert but it was 0-19 to Bracknell after the first quarter.
Shortly after this, we scored a textbook try, following a solid lineout on our left side. Some solid running and excellent passing got the ball from left wing to right wing, and Scott secured his hattrick. Fin's conversion shaved the underside of the bar, but our 4th try ensured the bonus point and it was 0-24 to Bracknell. Will W was then given a yellow card for a marginal late tackle, and Bicester began to apply some pressure in our 22. However, strong defence from Bracknell resulted in stolen ball and Oski sprinted the length of the field and just had the legs to score under the posts, and with another Fin conversion it was 0-31.
Bicester finished the half with the man advantage, and built up some solid pressure, and the last move of the half ended up with them scoring out wide, to end the half with the score 5-31.
We rolled some player changes at half time, but had the wind and slope in our favour. Bicester continued to attack, and were soon rewarded with a try on the left wing, to close to 10-31. The forward battle continued to be attritional, and Bracknell conceded a succession of penalties for offside, and occasional high tackle, which would have cost really us against stronger opposition. Eventually we strung some passes together out to the left wing, and excellent decoy lines from the left wing and inside centre opened up a gap for Will W to score, which Louis converted, to move 10-38 ahead after 3 quarters.
Minutes later we attacked in the same way, with a wave of runners down the left side allowing Will W to burst through the same gap as before and touch down, but further out wide so Louis' conversion narrowly missed the upright, but it was now 10-43. To their immense credit, Bicester finished the game attacking strongly and again Bracknell conceded defensive penalties, but we stole a late breakaway and Harrison touched for Louis to convert and end the match 10-50.

by Phil Wells