BRACKNELL blew a 12-point second-half lead as Exmouth hit back with a brace of tries to snatch a thrilling 36-36 draw in their South West Premier clash on Saturday.

A Jiute Tipua try and five points from the boot of Chris Laidler kept the Lily Hill men in contention at the end of an entertaining opening 20 minutes, the two sides locked at 10-10.

It was the visitors who moved ahead before the interval, though, a classy break from Gabe Hills setting-up Tipua for his second score.

Bracknell moved further in front early in the second half as Ben Sanderson crossed the whitewash – Laidler converting – before Exmouth hit back with their second converted score to cut the deficit to 22-17.

In an increasingly topsy-turvy encounter, the hosts moved in front with another converted score, only for Ian Burch to reply before Laidler added the extras to make it 29-24.

The game appeared to be safe when Simon Bayliss was the next to cross for Dan Ap Dafydd’s men, the conversion pushing the lead to 36-24.

However, Exmouth redoubled their efforts and hit back with two late tries, one converted, and with Bracknell missing a late penalty, both sides went away from a gripping encounter with three points.

The result leaves the Lily Hill men ninth in the table, eight points clear of third-bottom Ivybridge.

Bracknell have a week off before hosting second-bottom Lydney on Saturday, March 3.