BRACKNELL RFC endured a disappointing start to 2017 as they lost 27-19 at home to National Three South West relegation candidates Salisbury.

It was the visitors who opened the scoring with a converted try following a break down the right hand flank within the first five minutes.

Salisbury extended their lead with another converted try on the 20-minute mark, coming off a catch and drive from a line-out in the Bracknell 22.

With Salisbury enjoying most of the possession, Bracknell were unable to string any plays together and the visitors converted the possession into scoreboard points with two further penalties from full back Tom Lane, taking their lead to 20-0.

It took until just before half time for Bracknell to get onto the scoreboard. A line-out catch-and-drive, joined by both backs and forwards, was deemed by referee Charlie Gayther to have been brought to the ground illegally by Salisbury, and he awarded a penalty try to Bracknell. Chris Laidler added the extras.

Bracknell opened the scoring in the second half, wing Ben Yates seizing on a loose ball to score under the Salisbury posts before Laidler converted.

Yet within three minutes a Salisbury try put a spike in any potential Bracknell comeback. A Salisbury catch-and-drive, almost a carbon copy of Bracknell’s score in the first half, took the score to 27-14.

Halfway through the second half a pacey break by Yates saw him score his second try of the afternoon and give the hosts hope. Yet a missed conversion and a later failure to kick a penalty in front of the Salisbury posts meant Bracknell could not even secure a losing bonus point.

Bracknell host Brixham next Saturday (2.15pm).

  • CROWTHORNE visit Slough in their first BB&O Premier game of 2017 on Saturday (2.15pm).