BRACKNELL RFC’s four-match winning streak in National Three South West ended in disappointing fashion following a heavy 67-13 defeat at Bournemouth.

Dan Ap Dafydd’s men sat just one place below their hosts before Saturday’s kick-off, with both teams in a mid-table spot.

But Bracknell failed to match Bournemouth’s performance on the day as they crashed to their biggest defeat of the season.

There was little sign of what was to come when Bracknell’s Anthony Fitch slotted a penalty to cancel out an earlier one from Grant Hancox for the hosts.

Bracknell extended their lead to 8-3 thanks to a superb Ben Yates try which Fitch was unable to convert, before Grant replied with Bournemouth’s second penalty.

Nevertheless, the Lily Hill Men responded and grabbed their second try of the day from a quickly-taken penalty. Fitch missed the extras, but they led 13-6 after 25 minutes.

Back came Bournemouth thanks to a Luca Firetto touchdown, with Hancox’s conversion tying the scores at 13-13.

The home side nudged ahead when Rees barrelled over from the base of a scrum and Hancox knocked over the conversion to lead 20-13 at the break.

Sadly, Bracknell were no match for the hosts in a dire second half as a converted Sam Hardcastle touchdown stretched their lead before Bennett went over for their fourth bonus-point try to put them 34-13 ahead.

The final quarter was one Bracknell will want to forget as Andy Spikings, Alex Everett-Bolter, Andy Kingswell, Wyn Roberts and Hardcastle all ran in further tries to compound the visitors’ misery.

The loss leaves Bracknell 10th in the table. They return to action on Saturday, January 7 when they host a Salisbury side sitting two places below them.

Crowthorne RFC

CROWTHORNE returned to winning ways in Berks, Bucks & Oxon Premier with a resounding 44-0 home victory against Phoenix on Saturday.

Crows were aiming to bounce back from the previous weekend’s loss at Hungerford, and they did not disappoint thanks to a powerful display on home soil.

The bonus-point win leaves Crows sixth in the table. They return to action on January 14 when they travel to Slough.