BRACKNELL RFC are still searching for their first away win of the season following Saturday’s 14-5 reverse at South West Premier basement boys Old Patesians.

While they have won five of their six home matches at Lily Hill Park, Bracknell have lost all eight fixtures on their travels this campaign.

Their first away clash against Old Patesians for four years was switched from Everest Road to the Prince of Wales Stadium in Cheltenham.

The home side adapted quicker to the testing conditions and grabbed a try from their first venture into Bracknell territory, loose head prop Teddy Saunders scoring from close quarters, with fly-half Marcus Raymond converting for a 7-0 lead.

And the home side increased their lead in the 15th minute with a second touchdown when wing Duncan Spurroer burst through the middle of a ruck and scamper under the posts, with Raymond making no mistake from the tee to put his side 14-0 up.

It stayed that way until the interval as both teams battled the driving rain and strong winds.

However, Bracknell’s tails were soon up when Saunders was yellow carded in the early exchanges of the second half.

With Old Pats down to 14 men, Bracknell were twice held up over the line before the pressure finally told as the ball was spun wide after a series of forwards’ drives allowing Connor Serge to score out wide.

Unfortunately, Vic Hardwicke’s touchline conversion drifted wide on the wind.

Dan Ap Dafydd’s visitors were enjoying their best spell of the game, but they struggled to break down a determined Old Pats defence.

Bracknell turned to their bench for inspiration and brought on former Academy player Jamie Johnson with 15 minutes remaining.

But Old Pats, having weathered a Bracknell storm, grew stronger in the closing stages as no more points were scored.

The defeat leaves Bracknell 10th in the table heading into a winter break.

They return to league action on Saturday, January 5 when they host Barnstaple.

Bracknell: Bellman, Clarke (c), Cotterell, Bailey, Stevenson-Leigh, Verley, Spencer-Jones, Gibbons, Franklin, Hardwicke, Bayliss, McDonald, Henry, Segre, Hills. Replacements: Dowding, Burch, Johnson.