U17s vs Bracknell

With league and cup campaigns out the way both sides were looking for a good competitive friendly as we head towards the seasons finale.

This was very much a "game of two halves" with 'Ensians playing some very direct, incisive, fluid rugby in the first half and things becoming much more disjointed in the second half following the neck injury to Steven's and resultant change of pitches.
• Bright scored the first, a typical wingers try when he finished off an early attacking move to score down in the right hand corner.
• Leicester scored the second when he collected a ball just outside his own 22 and jinked in and out scampering the length of the pitch to touch down.Somers converted.
• Bracknell scored next to make it 12 - 5 when their considerable bulk upfront trundled over from close quarters.
• Bright scored his second of the afternoon when, in a cunning turn of events, a well planned lineout move fell completely apart and Bright tidied up the scraps to blast down the right hand wing and score.
• Hunt was next to trouble the scorers when he "tidied up" a poor Bracknell lineout on the 'Ensians 10m line, burst, scampered, trundled, all in one, down the left touch line to score. Welcome back Matt!
• Sharp (mixing it with the girls instead of the donkeys in an un accustomed position of Centre) was on hand to complete a move started by Leicester. Leicester broke out from his own half with Bright on his right hand side, Bright had acres of room and, at a quick count, absolutely no one left to beat.... all he needed was the ball, a dead cert try was on the cards, or was it? Leicester chose to cut inside into heavy traffic; four coaches topped themselves on the sideline, but with three players hanging off him and an early appearance in the first tour court very much on the cards, Sharp popped up on his inside to take the offload, save Leicester's bacon and burst over to score. Somers added the extras.
• Hunt scored his second when Leicester again calved open the defence to set Paterson (another donkey mixing it with the girls, this time on the wing) flying (ish) down the wing. Everyone was willing him to score when he was caught several metres out; Hunt was on hand to finish things off.
• Bracknell then pulled one back.
• Bright scored his third of the afternoon, just on half time when Stevens tidied up loose ball on the 'Ensians 10m line, pinged out a nicely weighted pass to Richardson who unleashed his lethal bollywood ....err....sidestep to create space for Bright to flash down the right wing (again) and score.
Half Time 39 - 10.
• Oliver opened the scoring in teh scond half when richardson called a move, box kicked over the Bracknlee defence and Oliver ran on to take a difficult bouncing ball and score.
• With Just 7 minutes of the second half played Stevens took a severe knock to the head causing a neck injury. Whilst the ambulance was awaited play moved to the middle pitch and it all became a little disjointed.
• Bracknell proved that they were far from dead and buried when they scored twice, converting one.
• Leicester then scored his second with another trademark break straight through the visitors defence from the half way line.
• Holt got his name on the score sheet at the death of the game when a ball pinged out of a messy ruck and as a good loose forward he was first to react, picking up the ball and flying down the touch line to score.
During the first half we played some lovely rugby, on a par with several performances this season (the first half at Bicester springs to mind). It just shows what can be done with good quick ball, good handling, "heads up rugby" and direct running. If you play at pace and keep the ball alive, any side will struggle to defend it. Great to watch.

Thanks to the guys that played out of position today. Massive thanks to all the supporters.

Early news from James is positive; x-rays have not revealed any major damage although at the time of writing he is being kept in for observation. We all wish him a quick recovery. Huge thanks to Big nurse Bloomfield and Julie for first aid help.

Well done to men of the match Jones (remedial drinking training will be sorted) and Leicester.