BRACKNELL RFC hauled themselves out of the South West Premier drop zone with an impressive 38-27 bonus-point victory at Weston-super-Mare.

The Lily Hill men endured a dreadful start, conceding an early try to home captain Sam Coles, before Ross MacDougall was sin-binned by referee Andy Green.

Weston-super-Mare took advantage of their numerical advantage as back row Jack Woodland also crossed the whitewash, James Mackay adding the extras to make it 12-0.

Bracknell hit back when a turnover and break by Guiseppe Salustri was followed by some deft offloads between backs and forwards which ended with James Ingle opening the visitors’ scoring out wide in the corner.

Encouraged by the score, Bracknell pressed and were rewarded when Chris Laidler found a gap in the home side’s defence, going on to convert his own try and level matters.

It was Weston-super-Mare who had the final word in the first half, though, a Mackay penalty giving them a 15-12 advantage at the break.

Macdougall went from zero to hero early in the second half as he crossed from close range to put Bracknell in front, and wing Jiute Tapua wrapped up the bonus-point when he touched down, Laidler converting to make it 24-15.

The visitors continued their assault as Mike Clarke seized a loose ball before feeding Ben Sanderson, who in turn found Gabe Hills to finish. Laidler again added the extras and Bracknell led by 16 points.

The visitors received a second yellow card when Harry Challenor was also binned, and with an injury to prop Jonny Mirza leading to uncontested scrums, Bracknell were penalised and had to defend with just 13 men.

This allowed Robbie Mackay to cut the deficit with a third try for Wests, but any doubt of the result was ended with Peceli Nacavamuto’s converted effort for Bracknell, rendering a late Marcus Nel effort for the hosts merely a consolation.

Bracknell are 10th in the table and host the side one place below them, Camborne, on Saturday (2.15pm).

  • CROWTHORNE conceded their BB&O Premier home game to Wheatley on Saturday.

The basement boys – now on minus 19 points – visit second-placed Littlemore on Saturday.