The Lily Hill men remain fourth in National Three South West, but closed the gap on Brixham to just one point, while they are 10 behind Exmouth ahead of a mouth-watering showdown this weekend.

The one disappointment for Greenslade-Jones was the lack of a winning bonus point, with Bracknell scoring just three tries.

He admitted: “The minimum requirement really was that we get the bonus point but unfortunately they played some better rugby and kept the ball for long periods in the second half. I thought we might have snuck a try at the end when Ben Yates went through but unfortunately it does not take us level on points with Brixham and it doesn’t push us in to third place.” The Welshman added he was pleased his side were able to back up the previous week’s stunning 22-13 win against runaway leaders Redingensians with another success.

He said: “It’s very easy to get up for a Redingensians game but the next week against a team you potentially should win has got banana skin written all over it.” Old Redcliffians came into Saturday’s contest in a rich vein of form, having won at Newton Abbot seven days previously after beating high-flying Hornets the week before.

And they could have taken the lead at Lily Hill Park, only for fly-half Ash Groves to miss a kickable penalty.

Owain Davies slotted a three-pointer of his own as the Bristol side began to get on the wrong side of the referee.

Bracknell thought they had scored a try shortly after, with hooker Stuart Silvester stretching for the line, but the official took play back for an earlier penalty.

The visitors were made to pay a hefty price for their indiscilpine, with three players sin-binned within 26 minutes.

Flanker Sean Mcreight was the last to go, and after Davies knocked over a second penalty, Bracknell scored their first try courtesy of a wonderful, searing break from scrum-half Barry Dwyer, who ran in from about 35 metres out.

The hosts extended their lead just before half-time, with captain George Milligan making a powerful thrust through the Old Redcliffians defence before off-loading for prop Nick Ovens to go over under the posts. Davies knocked over the conversion to give Bracknell a 20-0 advantage.

Old Reds were considerably more competitive in the second half, but Bracknell went further in front when Stuart Mackay’s powerful charge was supported by Dwyer, and his excellent line allowed him to canter over the whitewash for his second try of the afternoon.

With 20 minutes remaining, the Lily Hill men would have been confident of scoring a bonus point try, but the visitors were in obdurate mood and scored the only remaining points of the contest, wing Herry Bird finishing smartly in the left hand corner.

Bracknell did have one last chance when substitute Ben Yates hacked clear and was only defeated by the bounce of the ball when trying to collect his kick.

But it was not to be and the hosts were left to settle with just four points for their efforts in victory.

And a reflective Greenslade-Jones told the News: “I thought the first half we were very focused and they infringed a lot which gave us a lot of possession but all credit to them, they had a long chat with the referee at half-time and they did what he asked.

“They eradicated the penalties and had a bit more ball.

“In the first half with them not having much ball they were unable to impose themselves, but in the second half they put us under a bit of pressure and got themselves into the game.”