BRACKNELL RFC’s poor run continued as they were beaten 30-9 at National Three London and South East leaders London Irish Wild Geese, writes Richard Ashton.

It was a fifth straight defeat for Rory Greenslade-Jones’s (pictured) men, and although they put in a fine first-half performance, the home side ultimately proved too strong.

The curse of injury and unavailability again struck the Lily Hill men, with the visitors forced into five changes from the side which had lost at home to Colchester seven days before.

On a damp day at Irish’s new Hazlewood headquarters, a strong wind blew across the pitch as both sides exchanged early penalties, Lewis Dennett securing Bracknell’s first points.

The home side bagged the first try of the day off a Bracknell turnover, Seb Rodwell going over to make it 8-3.

Bracknell hit back, however, going through the phases before forcing another penalty which Dennett again slotted to cut the gap to two on 30 minutes.

The visitors’ injury problems mounted when inspirational No. 8 Lachlan Valentine was forced off through injury, and things went from bad to worse just before the interval as Irish second row Micky Jones went over to extend the lead to 13-6.

Bracknell again showed their heart by scoring the first points of the second half, another Dennett penalty reducing the arrears to four points.

However, the leaders reasserted themselves and following an interminable eight minutes of scrummaging – which featured seven scrums – Wild Geese finally spread the ball wide and substitute Pete Hodgkinson went over before converting his own score.

Bracknell continued to defend doggedly but with their threadbare squad down to the bare bones, Stuart Silvester was forced to switch from his normal position of hooker into the second row.

And the home side’s pressure finally told as former Bracknell man George Owen collected a cross-field kick before dotting down for his side’s bonus-point try. The conversion was kicked and Irish later added a final penalty to complete a comfortable victory.

The defeat means Bracknell drop to 11th in the table ahead of a home game against Chichester this Saturday (2.15pm), who jumped to ninth following their 15-8 success at home to Wimbledon.

l CROWTHORNE RFC picked up five BB&O Premier points after their opponents Alchester conceded their game on Saturday.

The injury-hit visitors had only nine players available, gifting fifth-placed Crows the points.

Alex Stewart’s men will look to break into the top four when they travel to Chesham this coming Saturday.