It was a game that promised so much – and delivered – as Old Cents needed a draw or more to secure their best ever placing of third spot, while a Bracknell victory would ensure Rory Greenslade-Jones’ men finished third themselves.

Both sides proved themselves as genuine title contenders for next season in a fine game of running rugby which eventually ended in Bracknell’s favour.

The hosts took the lead when Nick Ovens crashed over for a try that was converted by the perfect boot of George Owen, but Old Cents came firing back with three converted tries in 10 minutes.

Liam Hemming touched down and converted his own try before the visitors added two more – and Hemming again converted both – to give Old Cents a 21-7 lead after 23 minutes.

It looked like third spot was slipping away from Bracknell but they staged a fantastic comeback to lead at half time by seven points.

The fightback started in the 27th minute when some neat interplay between the backs allowed Ollie Taylor to feed Owen, who crossed in the corner before adding the extras with a fantastic kick.

Five minutes later and constant pressure on the line by Bracknell’s forwards gave Owen time to cross again, this time with a relatively comfortable conversion to bring the scores level.

It had been an absorbing contest and Bracknell regained the lead in the 37th minute when Giuseppe Salustri touched down.

Owen again kicked the conversion to take his points tally to 18 before half-time had been reached, with the score 28-21 to Bracknell at the break.

It had been one of the best halves of the season and it continued in a similar vein in the second period as Barry Dwyer nipped in to touch down early in the half.

It was again converted by the relentless Owen to open up a 14-point gap, but that lead was cancelled out in another short burst by the visitors who crossed the whitewash twice in 10 minutes.

Hemming was equally as capable with the boot as Owen in a kicking masterclass between the two and it was 35-35 with 25 minutes remaining.

The game had swung from side to side plenty of times and Bracknell halted the fightback with a score of their own to retake the lead in the 65th minute.

Dwyer picked up a loose ball in midfield and ran 50 yards to touch down under the posts, giving Owen one of his easier conversions.

It had been an open battle with 11 tries scored, but not one penalty kicked so it came as a slight surprise when the last 15 minutes passed without incident.

Bracknell rarely came under pressure against an Old Cents side that seemed to have run out of steam at a critical time, with the hosts holding on to possession in the closing stages to ensure victory.

It had been a treat for everyone watching and there was a mutual respect between the sides at the end of the game, with both sets of players sure to do battle again in two equally enthralling contests next season.

Bracknell: Staples, Silvester, Ovens, Barry, Taylor, Salustri, Milligan (c), Clarke, Dwyer, Smart, Owen, Nowak, Brember, Burch, Mackay. Subs: Miranda, Crow, Ap Dafydd.