Bracknell U18 A 36 - 6 Amersham & Chiltern U18

Bracknell illuminated a dull and foggy afternoon at Lily Hill Park with a good, but stuttering performance against league and National Cup rivals Amersham & Chiltern (A&C). The league encounter provided both teams the opportunity to gauge their preparation for the National Cup 4th round in January, A&C have the daunting task of travelling to face the mighty Redruth and we wish them well.

The pitch, whilst heavy had held up well following the 2nd XV fixture with Maidenhead, and it was Bracknell who settled best in the early exchanges, although A&C created the first chance right from the kick off, which ultimately was perhaps their best chance of the game.

Slowly but surely, the Bracknell pack began to dominate its opposition, and the backs made ground with ball in hand. The pressure told, and the A&C midfield became fragmented, when Kieran Brown executed a wonderful show and go to slice between the 10 & 12 and cut back to win the race to the line. Jake Findley converted and Bracknell had an early 7-0 lead.

Soon after Ally Walton, made a trademark break down the blindside from 40m out and was hauled down inches short, the support was on hand to collect the ball and dot it down, but the ball was adjudged to have gone forward in the tackle. The referee, who officiated well throughout, said afterwards this was 1 of 4 potential scores he was unable award.

The Bracknell attacks continued, but were fractured with unforced errors, so continuity and progress was damped. The talk in the touchline was, keep the ball, cut out the penalties and the game was there for the taking. One of these errors at the breakdown resulted in a firmly struck penalty for A&C to reduce the Bracknell lead.

This was short lived when Jake Findley struck back with a penalty of his own to regain the 7 point lead. Between this exchange of points, Bracknell had begun to turn the screw, particularly at the set piece. Josh Knight took the ball against the head at the scrum on more than one occasion and the A&C scrum creaked. A hooker striking for the ball is rare these days, but when your set between the 'Pillars of Hercules' then striking for the ball becomes a reality, Brian Moore would have been impressed.

A solid set piece allows you to launch attacks with quick front foot ball, and a centre field scrum was the platform for the second try of the game.

A simple, but effective midfield move brought Grant Coates on to the ball at pace to attack a somewhat stretched A&C defensive line. Grant bust the first tackle, drew the full back passing the Julian Guy who raced towards the corner, the cover defence was good but the scrag tackle couldn't stop the offload to Kieran Brown who ran in his second try of the game. The conversion was missed.

Just before half time, A&C were awarded a penalty at a scrum infringement, which was duly converted to leave Bracknell with a unflattering 15-6 lead.

With improved game management throughout the team, and a reduction in the error count errors, a solid win was on the cards. Dan Ap Dafydd, the Bracknell head coach asked for a reaction at the start of the 2nd period, as an early A&C score would bring them right back in to a game.

The catalyst for this reaction was another strike against the head, and a typical explosion of pace down a narrow blindside by Ally Walton, again his surge to the line was cut short by the cover tackle, but Brooke Avann was on his shoulder to take the offload and score. Brooke, along with his back row colleagues and burly locks had been impressive all day, with their work rate around the park and ball carrying, this is a pack to be admired.

Jake Findley converted to extend the lead to 22-6.

The Bracknell dominance continued, and once again a solid left field scrummage 5m out from the A&C line provided the next score. The rock like front 5 fashioned an opportunity for Tom Field and Ally Walton to expertly complete a 8, 9 pick and go from the base, with Ally diving over under the posts. Jake Findley converted.

With the error count significantly reduced and good decisions on the ball, the reaction was completed by a well manufactured score from 70m out. This score was all about game management and making the right decisions at the right time.

Bracknell attacked from deep with structure and powerful ball carriers, but a lose pass was knocked backwards, but retained. Patience was required, and slow ball drills engaged, from the resultant breakdown, Brooke Avann was released in to space, and he ran hard straightened and attacked the inside shoulder. Callum Baker ran an incisive line on to Brooke's shoulder who managed to pass out of the tackle for Callum to burst away, cut inside the cover defence and race to the line to score under the posts. Jake Findley converted and a sound, workmanlike victory was secured 36-6.

The ground was heavy, the ball wet and covered with a layer of Bracknell mud, so the Bracknell half backs could be forgiven for the occasional loose pass, and should be congratulated for the crispness of the majority of the ball they delivered. The Bracknell forward pack is abrasive and technically strong, and have risen above the opposition to date, but sterner tests await them, and again a reaction will be required. The back line flourishes well on the front foot, has pace in abundance and defends aggressively.

So the 1st XV finishes the year unbeaten, but aware that complacency is their greatest enemy, but they will be kept honest by the coaching team and the excellent 2nd XV who are snapping at their heals for inclusion.

Finally, a big thanks to the referee, and to A&C who, despite the scoreline, played an active part in a thoroughly entertaining game.