Despite being away from home, leaders Rams were firm favourites to complete the double over the Lily Hill Men this season and chalk up a 13th successive victory in National Three South West.

But Rory Greenslade-Jones’ hosts were outstanding from start to finish and denied Rams even a losing point in Saturday’s all-Berkshire derby.

It was a case of sweet revenge for Bracknell, who had lost the return fixture at Rams 27–3 earlier in the season.

However, there was to be no repeat for Rams this time as the hosts, inspired by Nico Maybury’s farewell appearance, claimed the bragging rights.

Delighted Bracknell head coach Greenslade-Jones declared: “We were expecting a tough encounter, but we also know that on our day we can beat any team in the league.

“Some results haven’t gone our way recently and we’ve lost a few close games. But Saturday was an 80 minute performance from start to finish and we were by far the better side.” He added: “Defensively we were outstanding. We kept Rams down to two tries and one of those was a clear case of crossing which the referee missed.

“We were spot on tactically and all the hard work we put in on the training ground paid dividends.

“Redingensians claimed to be the best side in Berkshire recently, but we now hold the bragging rights until the next time we play them.

“There is a lot of mutual respect between the clubs, but I admit I had a big smile on my face on Saturday night.” Bracknell’s own promotion hopes had suffered a series of blows following narrow losses to Hornets and Old Patesians in recent weeks.

Gensians, though, looked to be running away with the title after building a commanding 11-point lead over second-placed Exmouth at the top of the table.

However, Bracknell’s win cut Rams’ cushion to six points and left Greenslade-Jones men a further 14 points behind in fourth, with one game in hand.

The first half on Saturday was a closely-fought affair with Bracknell, led by Leo Bailey, dominant in the lineout and Rams in the scrum.

Bracknell kicked off with the slope and, perhaps, there was a sign of what was to come when, despite not having sent the kick 10 metres and conceding a scrum, a great burst from No.8 Maybury sent former Rams wing George Owen sprinting for the line, only to be hauled up a yard short by a last-ditch tackle from Olly Poole.

Rams’ first-up tackling was excellent early on, but it was their power at the scrum that paved the way for their opening points when the home pack were penalised and scrum-half James Brooks banged over the kick.

The lead was short-lived as Rams flanker Azza Hopkins was caught going over the top at a ruck and Bracknell’s Owain Davies slotted the first of five successful penalties on the day.

But Rams went ahead soon after when skipper Andy Amor touched down out wide despite a strong hint of crossing in the build-up, though Brooks missed the conversion attempt.

Bracknell replied almost immediately when David Massey was penalised for querying the referee’s decision to award a penalty against them and was, promptly, marched back 10 metres and in range for Davies to slot over his second penalty.

With Brooks missing a 35-metre penalty attempt just before half-time, Bracknell trailed 8-6 at the break.

However, the visitors, who stayed out on the pitch during the interval, stretched their lead three minutes into the second half when Massey and Luke Flower combined to send wing Ollie Foxley over in the corner for an unconverted score and 13-6 lead.

But they were to be Rams’ last points of the day and Bracknell’s superiority in the lineout, led by Bailey and Ollie Taylor, began to pay off.

As Rams began to struggle, Davies kicked two more penalties to leave the hosts 13-12 behind.

And the home side’s scrum then stood up to some sustained pressure, turning a possible penalty try into a penalty of their own and the chance for Davies to clear their lines.

It proved a telling period in the match, as soon after Stuart Mackay burst through a gap in midfield to score a try under the post which Davies converted for a 19-13 lead with 20 minutes remaining.

Bracknell never looked like relinquishing the lead from there and Davies gave them some breathing space with his final penalty to put them 22-13 in front.

Rams’ frustrations were summed up in the closing stages when Massey was yellow carded for back-chatting, allowing Bracknell to coast home.

Bailey was named Bracknell’s man-of-the-match, while Davies finished with a 100% kicking record on the day and a 17-point haul.

Bracknell became only the second side to beat Rams this season after Hornets, and Greenslade-Jones added: “Matt Brambley was outstanding. He’s played in the back row and second row in the past, and he put in one hell of a shift at tight head prop last weekend.

“Leo Bailey also put in a man-of-the-match performance. We dominated the lineout and he stole countless ball.

“Ollie Taylor also played well as Leo’s second-row partner and Owain Davies had a superb game at full-back.

“Whenever we came under pressure he would bang the ball 60 metres back down field. His game management was superb and it’s great to have him back in the side following his injury at the start of the season.” Bracknell host Old Redcliffians in a rearranged fixture at Lily Hill Park this Saturday (2.15pm ko) before a crunch trip to Exmouth the following weekend.

Bracknell: Mirza, Silvester, Brambley, Bailey, Taylor, Austin, Milligan (C), Maybury, Dwyer, Price, Owen, Nowak, Mackay, Burch, Davies. Subs: Salustri, Barry, Brember.

Rams: Duffelen, Poole, Bryson, Massey, Foxley, Flower, Brooks, Steadman, Henderson, Baker, Hughes, Bryson, Amor (c), Hopkins, Guttridge. Subs: Weller, Davies, Dampies.