Conditions were good at Kingsmead Road it was bright, but it was cold, finger freezing cold so there was no surprise that handling errors would play a significant part in keeping a limited High Wycombe side in this OBB Division 3 League fixture.

It was clear from the opening exchanges that whilst High Wycombe had the bulk, Bracknell processed the greater guile, game awareness, structures and superior command of the basics - they were the better team - so continuity would be the defining factor and bring the rewards.

High Wycombe were under the cosh for much of the game, but found themselves up 14-0 after 22 minutes - they had battled hard, but had been allowed to infringe and disrupt beyond the gain line too often halting any continuity, mix this with too many unforced handling errors and they had a rich cocktail of opportunity to breakout and launch the occasional foray behind enemy lines. Both scores were converted.

Bracknell, now stung in to action created chances with Luke Fisher going close, and Ben Stevenson chasing through his own kick, but there are no guarantees of a 'Barnes Wallis' bounce with an egg shaped ball, and Ben was unable to retrieve it for a certain score.

The visitors continued to press hard, fighting against the constant side entry. Jack McGee had a torrid time, hounded constantly at the base of scrums and rucks alike - he was offered little protection from the referee - he worked exceptionally hard to provide quality ball for his backs to launch attacks, but was also forced to take the ball on all too often through no fault of his own - continuity was difficult to establish under this circumstances.

But it was Jack, aided by Sam Dunks who pressured the Wycombe half backs at the scrum on the home teams 22 - here was the opportunity for Bracknell to open their account. The pressured looping pass from the Wycombe 9 missed its intended target and was snapped up, and moved wide quickly to 'Billy Whizz' Luke Fisher on the left wing, he needed no second invitation to score in the corner. The conversion was missed.

It was another scrum deep in the Wycombe red zone that provided the next opportunity. The ball was moved two passes in field from the base, and Danny Ramsey flat footed the Wycombe midfield with ease, gliding in under the posts - yes the Wycombe midfield were at fault, but Danny's footwork and guile in executing the strike will be worthy of another watch. Ben S converted.

At half time High Wycombe led 14-12 against the run of play, territory and procession which proves that statistics don't win games of rugby. So the message at the break was clear, work hard, defend with intensity, do the basics well and reduce the error count.

Bracknell again started the strongest, and now the hands had warmed up the error count was much reduced, the pressure was now on and whilst the home team worked hard, they offered little more than stern defence - with the exception of the odd bullocking run from their no. 8.

On 42 minutes Bracknell exploited a narrow blindside through Ben Stevenson, who kicked long with some precession down the touchline, the ball finally rolling into touch just short of the Wycombe line. The resultant line out was won by the home team, but subsequently turned over by James Roberts who dived over to score. A well struck conversion from Ben drifted just wide and Bracknell now led for the first time 14-17.

The bench was now entering the affray seamlessly and at times added some value particularly in confrontational defensive efforts as High Wycombe enjoyed a purple patch entrenched on the Bracknell line. But Wycombe's chosen routes to the line were predictable and naive throwing the big lad at defensive line primed, loaded and ready to exploded like a siege cannon - Attacking line outs and midfield attacks were expelled with equal ferocity - Liam Collins and Jamie Johnson combining to sabotage one of these less that subtle assaults from a penalty 5m out, best described as being sent back with interest - the Bracknell battlements were not to be breached.

On 57 minutes the Wycombe incursion into enemy territory was in full retreat when Bracknell kicked long - any kick is only as effective as the chase, and Bracknell are great chasers - the ball was won back and moved to Luke Fisher who is a hard lad to stop when he has ball in hand, he whizzed in and Ben Stevenson converted to complete the scoring at 14 - 24.

This was ultimately a good win, and a feisty one at times so it was good to see the lads from both sides congratulate each other on their respective efforts. Bracknell were deserved winners playing with greater variety and once the hands had warmed up with good core skills & continuity - doing the basics well, with power, pace and precision is the ultimate target for this emerging squad - today on the whole this was achieved.