The weather was reasonable for putting ball about though it was to be a game most dominated by the forwards on both sides. Early phases of play in Bracknell possession showed a home team eager to impose their bulky pack on the visitors, though CS responded well in defence. Runners of various shapes and sizes threw themselves at the CS line but were successfully repelled to the point the Bracknell 10 changed tack and effectively ‘sat in the armchair’ sending kicks over the CS line to test the back three intermittently throughout the match.

The CS pack set themselves a physically demanding day at the office through well organised and powerful carries to churn up territory; alas the rewards for such hard work did not flow freely – three times the CS boys crossed the line and were judged to have been held up. The first of which Cameron Reed did made a stretch for the line under pressure and appear to ground the ball; although the supporters on the side and even some players on both sides appeared confirm this most importantly the referee for the day could not; thus the first of a number of 5m scrums. The home defence was equally as hungry and quick off the line causing CS trouble at distributing the ball and exploiting the danger men in the back line. Territory was generally gained throughout the first half in the Bracknell end through tight play and toward the CS line through Bracknell kicking and a number of penalties given away at unfortunate times by CS. The first half, though full of hard exchanges and play up and down the park, ended 3 a piece. Could CS come out at the break and start turning some of the dominance in keys areas into points?

Well, yes – but not enough unfortunately. The way the game was going in the opening half one might have expected it to be only a matter of time before the persistent line crossing by CS would yield some free flowing points. But in the opening minutes of the second half Bracknell managed to put together some very well worked phases meandering either side of the pitch via the forwards and backs and finally ending with some strong running out on the wing and 5 points (unconverted).

The score remained at 8-3 for while as the phases of play continued generally as they did in the first half. Some aggressive play by Tom Mitchell and deceptive running from James Houstoun at 10 showed some promise and at one point Ross Yiend was almost through onto the try line but for a pass adjudged to be forward. Penalties on either side leaked territory as the lineouts were fiercely contested to secure much needed possession and that next try. The next try did in fact come from a lineout for CS; a textbook catch and drive at the line following a CS penalty for a Bracknell offside at the ruck (a feature of the game which was less forthcoming with pens as it perhaps should have been on reflection). It worked its way skilfully toward the posts as the Bracknell defence desperately tried to knock the maul off course. After a momentary shift sideways it got moving again and this time the heaving mass of bodies made sure that the ball was over the line and was grounded and that it was there clearly for all to see – Cameron Reed and CS 5 points (no conversion).

There then followed further periods of end to end rugby – not particularly glamorous but tense and committed – to the point CS sustained a particularly nasty injury to fullback Chris Yeates; a ruptured Achilles and quite possibly the end to his playing season, though we wish him a speedy recovery. As we entered the final minutes it looked as though CS and Bracknell might share the points, despite the hard work and fierce play on either side.

However as the fatigue started to creep into the game on both sides the penalties started to appear in more concerning areas of the pitch for CS. On the first attempt at the posts the Bracknell kicker put the ball to the side and CS breathed a sigh of relief. However, 4 minutes later saw another penalty, this time a few feet nearer the centre of the pitch, and the Bracknell kicker made sure. 11-8 with minutes to go.

Despite some more committed play and some turned over balls on both sides the end drew near and after another penalty Bracknell cleared to the side to bring forth the final whistle – with it, their second win of the season and CS 1863s third loss on the trot. On a positive note, there was a bonus point to CS; but it felt too little for 80 minutes of hard graft by the boys in blue and white of CS Rugby 1863.