BRACKNELL RFC produced another fine performance to thrash Westcliff 34-12 in their National Three London & South East clash at Lily Hill Park, writes Richard Ashton.

Rory Greenslade-Jones’s men took the game to their struggling opponents from the start, crossing the whitewash for the first time when wing Ian Burch collected a Joe Price pass and scorched away for the home side.

Liam Hemming’s conversion put the Lily Hill men 7-0 to the good, but the visitors hit back when a missed tackle by scrum-half Jack Conway on Buster Reynolds allowed him to break through and find Chris Dudman who touched down, George Parmenter slotting the extras.

Conway made amends shortly after as he took a quick tap penalty and found Hemming, the No. 10 dabbing down before knocking the conversion over.

Hemming added a penalty to extend the lead to 17-7, and they could have gone further in front when Dan Faamatuainu was held up just short of the line, Westcliff flanker Chris Marsh being sin-binned for not releasing.

Bracknell failed to take advantage, though, and were reduced to 14 men themselves after full back Ben Yates initially threw the ball away after running into touch, before he said too much for the liking of referee Matt Shales.

The visitors redoubled their efforts and cut the gap before the break, Parmenter taking advantage of an overlap to go over in the right-hand corner.

His attempted conversion fell short and wide, however, leaving his side trialing 17-12 at the interval.

Bracknell all but sealed the victory with a brilliant start to the second half.

Playing a highly entertaining off-loading game, the home side scored two tries in 10 minutes to seal a bonus point.

Firstly, impressive flanker Jamie Rudkin carved his way through the Westcliff defence to go over under the posts, Hemming’s conversion extending the lead to 24-12.

The irrepressible Burch then showed his pace again to burn the Westcliff defence on the outside, crossing for his second score of the afternoon.

The game settled down for the majority of the second half, although Bracknell did add a fifth try late on.

The pack, who had impressed throughout, pushed Westcliff off their own ball five metres from the visitors’ line, George Milligan picking up and powering over.

Second row Lachlan Valentine (pictured with Greenslade-Jones) was named man-of-the-match having carried effectively throughout the contest.

Bracknell now sit ninth in the table having won four of their last five games, although they face a tough trip to fourth-placed East Grinstead this coming Saturday (2pm).

  • CROWTHORNE RFC climbed to fifth in the BB&O Premier after visitors Wheatley conceded the game on Saturday.

Having failed to win any of their first five games of the season, Crows now have a healthy 23 points on the board ahead of a home game against second-placed Gosford All Blacks at Arborfield Garrison this Saturday (2.15pm).