Reading Abbey 0 Bracknell Black 10

For the third year on the trot the current Bracknell U10s won the reading mini rugby tournament with a two tries to nil victory in the final on Sunday over other local rivals reading Abbey. The draw pitched the Bracknell A team against Farnborough, Reading A and the Abbey B teams in the group stages. A slow start in the first match against Farnborough saw a close 5-0 victory with the winning try coming in the dying seconds of the game. There followed a tense 0-0 draw against Reading with strong defence from each side not allowing the try line to be breached. In neither game was enough control exerted up front to release the backs and at times desperate tackling was need to keep the opposition out. The final pool game against the Abbey second string team saw the Bracknell at last playing some rugby and passing the ball into space to allow the talented runners to show what they can do running in four tries to win 20-0.

The semi final was against a strong and determined Swindon side but by this time the control at the breakdown was getting better and a relatively comfortable 10-0 victory followed. The final against Reading Abbey A team was by far and away the best performance of the day with relentless aggressive defence driving Abbey back in the tackle time and again. On two occasions the ball fell loose and was pounced upon by Bracknell defenders who had the wit and pace to run in tries from deep. As the game continued there was only one winner and the game ended 10-0 and victory for Bracknell.

The defensive abilities of this team have never been in doubt (no tries conceded again here) but the most pleasing aspects of this tournament was the way the ball was passed through the hands in the later games in the search of space rather than contact. What was very apparent from this tournament is that the opposition from Reading and Reading Abbey is getting stronger and it took the very best of rugby in the final to come out winners. It was also probably relevant that the other two teams played a very tough semi-final that went to extra time before Abbey ran out winners and were probably less fresh as a consequence. The Bracknell B team also competed in the tournament and lost a couple of close games to other A teams and beat the only other B team they played comfortably, an equally creditable performance.