First League Win of the Season

The eagerly awaited annual floodlit match only got the formal go ahead at 13.00 in the afternoon due to the weather, but it was well worth the wait. One could sense a quiet intensity about both squads as they ran through their pre match warm ups, Bracknell having beaten Reading in their first league game and the home side desperate to get their league campaign back on track after their away loss to league champions, Maidenhead.

Bracknell kicked off in front of a large crowd and despite a good catch and drive they kept the home side under pressure in the opening exchanges. Generally larger and more aggressive, the visiting forwards we dominant in the loose. By contrast their backs did not gel and despite plenty of early possession, the much improver 'Ensians backs defence was up to the challenge and Bracknell found themselves going backwards out wide. This was testament to the efforts that have gone in training into working with the backs and to the marshalling efforts of Leicester at No 10, as time after time the Bracknell backs were forced into errors or got caught with the ball.

The first score came when the home backs provided quick ball to winger Tsang out on the right wing. He started one of his trade mark mazy runs jinking inside and out to leave several opposition players in his wake before lighting the after burners and sprinting round the full back to score under the posts. Cox strolled confidently up and chipped over the conversion. Coach Jones was heard to say under his breath; "there is no substitute for pace on the wings". This was to be reflected in the second try too.

Whilst it was a torrid day for the forwards they stuck manfully to their jobs. Pack leader Lu led by example, working hard in the lineout where he had a great battle with his opposite number and putting in several crunching tackles. It was good to see debutant Webb working hard around the fringes.

The second score came after Leicester received quick ball from Lee deep inside his own half. Taking the ball at pace he skipped inside his opposite number to break down towards the left wing. He made good ground into the opposition half, drawing two players and with a well weighted and perfectly timed pass put MacDeviit, who was tracking him in support, into the smallest of gaps. That's all a good winger needs, and he was off. Full tilt, strong straight running to round the full back and touch down, ending a great move. 12 - 0.

Cox is another player who is growing in confidence week by week in his new position of full back. He put in a number of cracking tackles, lining his man up text book style to fell them and then get back on his feet and contest the ball. His confidence to join the line in attack is good to see. There is the added bonus of the biggest right foot on the park!

The remainder of the first half was played in the home sides half of the pitch. Bracknell will rue two tough but kickable penalties that they missed. Whilst kicked at their coaches request one wonders what the outcome would have been if the ball had been supplied to their forwards from the lineout. That said their forwards did score a deserved try just before half time from a close range attack to make it 12 - 5 at half time.

The speed and intensity of the match didn't let up at all in the second half which made it a nail biting match for all watching. Cruickshank had another solid game up front, it was good to see Jones back from injury and Wareham was industrious both in defence and "route one" attack! Bracknell scored 15 minutes into the second half but found themselves under pressure in the latter stages of this titanic battle when they defended their line well. Wareham was adjudged to have made a double movement when rounding off several good forwards attacks and Richardson, on for Lee, was unlucky to be bundled into touch one metre out when he attacked the blind side.

Result 12 - 10.

Congratulations to both sets of players for putting on such a well fought match. The man of the match was a close fought thing with Leicester taking the honours just ahead of Lu and Cox.

Thanks to referee Hunt for considerate refereeing.

Thanks to the Mum's that helped with the food.

Huge thanks to the large contingent of supporters. It was great to see a number of "old faces" as well as plenty of support from other squads in the club.

Bernie Leicester