BRACKNELL RFC secured a first South West Premier victory of the season as they edged out Newbury 16-15 in a hard-fought Berkshire derby at Lily Hill Park on Saturday.

It was the visitors who started the brighter and they took a 3-0 thanks to a penalty from fly half Rich West.

Bracknell responded with a Simon Bayliss try on the quarter of an hour mark, after he side stepped his opposite number to dot down under the Newbury posts.

The hosts’ lead would only last five minutes as full back Toby Thorne broke the Bracknell defence for a try, with the conversion putting his side 10-7 to the good.

However, this did not last long as further Bracknell pressure saw a Vic Hardwicke penalty draw the scores level.

Yet with Bracknell pressing in the Newbury half, a loose pass allowed centre Josh Lowe to intercept and run almost the length of the pitch to give Newbury the lead 15-10 at half time.

After the break Chris Laidlaw replaced Hardwicke and it was not long before he made his mark on the game, kicking a penalty to reduce Bracknell’s deficit.

With both sides unable to break down the defence of the other, a further Laidlaw penalty re-gave Bracknell the lead after the Blues were caught offside at a scrum.

No further scores took place and Bracknell took the spoils in an entertaining and nerve-jangling game.

Bracknell host Weston-super-Mare on Saturday (3pm).

  • CROWTHORNE RFC were thumped 77-0 in their BB&O Premier game at Wheatley.

They will look to bounce back at home to Littlemore this Saturday (3pm).