And it was the Lily Hill men’s back three of Stuart Mackay, Ian Burch and George Owen who they had to thank for sealing the win, the trio combining to score all of their side’s points against a spirited, but ultimately limited, Chard side.

Rory Greenslade-Jones’ men took a seventh minute lead of the back of what was a rare scrum on the day, with Bracknell taking the ball inside their own half. It was passed out to Mackay, who conjured some space for Burch, and the wing finished with aplomb before Owen knocked over the conversion.

If the away support thought this was the way the match was going to continue they were wrong, as 20 minutes later it was Chard who closed the gap with a try from player coach Simon Jenkins, coming from the back of a powerful forwards’ drive.

Under pressure in the scrums and repeatedly drawn into an upfront battle when there seemed to be no need, Bracknell took to kicking their penalties. George Owen’s two from three in the next 10 minutes took the score to 13-5, and the last of these penalties was a result of a yellow card to Chard’s Rob Burrell, who was quickly joined in the sin-bin by Jenkins on the stroke of half-time.

The visitors took advantage of their numerical advantage early in the second half as Burch scored his second breakway try, although Owen missed the kick this time around.

Mackay (pictured right) appeared to make the game safe 10 minutes later as he scored Bracknell’s third try, although Owen’s attempt to add the extras was thwarted by what was a very strong wind.

While Bracknell’s scoring had ended with 30 minutes still remaining, Chard had a purple patch to come and having managed to get some phases together scored twice in the last 20 minutes thanks to Neil Douglas and prop Louis Bartlett.

However, a rather rash drop-kicked conversion attempt and a hit post in the final minute meant the failure to convert any of their three tries cost the home side a bonus point.

Indeed, had Chard had access to a regular kicker they may have even secured a lesser-spotted home win, as they missed a number of penalties throughout the contest.

The Lily Hill men do not have a game this coming Saturday, and return to action at home to Weston-Super-Mare on Saturday, March 21 (3pm).