BRACKNELL RFC ended a run of four straight defeats in National Three South West with an impressive 19-6 victory at Launceston.

Dan Ap Dafydd’s men had shown an improvement in recent weeks without managing to secure a victory.

But Bracknell finally tasted that winning feeling again after a successful trek to Cornwall.

From the very first whistle the visitors’ pack were on top in both scrum and lineout and that’s how it stayed for the majority of the match, played on a heavy pitch.

They took the lead when they played advantage after Launceston had collapsed a scrum allowing Lachy Valentine, pictured, to barge his way over. Ben Nowak converted for a 7-0 lead.

Launceston hit back through their well-executed driving maul – their chief weapon all game – and they reduced the arrears with a Fraser Honey penalty.

But Bracknell quickly pulled further away thanks to an outstanding team try.

A penalty awarded for a flying arm on Kim Plant allowed them to attack.

A scoring change looked to have gone begging when Jack Conway’s final pass was intercepted, only for Launceston to make a hash of clearing the danger.

Ap Dafydd’s men were not about to squander the chance a second time and, after Ben Sanderson sliced through the home side’s defence, Michael Clarke brushed aside a series of tackles before touching down, with Nowak’s conversion putting them 14-3 up.

The hosts hit back immediately with another Honey penalty making it 14-6 at the break.

Bracknell, now playing with the slope, continued to dominate after the restart.

And they had the game all but sewn up just before the hour mark when Leo Bailey was driven over by the visitors’ marauding pack for the decisive try.

The conversion was missed but Bracknell never looked like letting the lead slip, despite seeing Ben Yates sinbinned for playing the ball when off his feet to halt a Launceston attack.

Even then the hosts failed to make their numerical advantage count as Bracknell’s defence stood firm to secure the victory.

Launceston even finished with 14 men themselves after one of their players was carded for stamping.

There were further positives for Bracknell with the return of Jonny Mirza from injury and a man-of-the-match display from James Ingle.

The victory moves Bracknell up to 10th in the table, with Launceston now one off the bottom.

Bracknell face another Cornish side this weekend when they host leaders Camborne at Lily Hill Park (2.15pm ko).