BRACKNELL RFC put up a brave effort but were ultimately beaten 32-15 by London & South East Division Three leaders Tonbridge Juddian at Lily Hill Park.

It was Rory Greenslade-Jones’s (pictured) side who started the livelier, enjoying the territory and possession and taking advantage of their early dominance with a try from Stuart Mackay on seven minutes.

However, Tonbridge responded two minutes later with a try of their own from full back Sam Monahan, following a quick tap and go from scrum half Will Ward.

The conversion was missed to leave the sides locked at 5-5.

With 16 minutes on the clock Bracknell failed to deal with a high ball, the ricochet finding its way to Judds’ second row Jamie Metcalfe who scampered under the Bracknell posts.

Ben Cooper slotted the conversion to make it 12-5.

However – benefiting from some fine work on the ground by Bracknell’s back row that saw them recover a loose ball within Juddians’ 22 – the hosts drew level with a Neil Higgins try on the half hour.

Lewis Dennett’s conversion levelled matters.

The visitors went back in front before the break, though, as they broke down the left before Monahan crossed for his second of the afternoon.

The second half opened with a Dennett penalty cutting the gap to just two points, but the outstanding Monahan then collected his own kick before surging clear to complete his hat-trick and make it 22-15.

The away side were reduced to 14 men when Toby Martin was sin-binned, but Bracknell could not take advantage and fell further behind when a Monahan break allowed Metcalfe to score his second.

And the visitors’ victory was assured when wing Hugo Watson added their sixth try.

Bracknell fly to Guernsey for their first trip to the Channel Islanders this coming Saturday (1.30pm).