Bracknell 35 - 11 Exmouth

Match report photos courtesy of Vernon at SolidPhotos.com

Further photos at the bottom of the match report and via the Photographs page

Having travelled the M5/M4 through some atrocious weather it would have been no surprise if Exmouth had arrived at South West 2 leaders Bracknell to find that the pitch was unplayable. Following an inspection by the referee the game went ahead and although the conditions were not good both sides contributed to a great game of rugby.

Stepping up a level the Cockles were the better side for periods of the first half but playing up a significant slope in the last quarter, against a well drilled outfit, proved just too much. The Bracknell coach, Ex Harlequin and England International, Chris Sheasby, focuses on defence and lineout and it was a text book catch and drive that opened their account, when second row Kenny Barry was driven over after twenty minutes.

Up until this point and playing down hill the Cockles were playing the game in the Bracknell half and they put together a number of scoring opportunities. After only two minutes a Richard Cadywould long shot penalty fell just short of the posts and Matt Hopper gave his side a scoring opportunity when he charged down a kick five minutes later. After Bracknell’s first score they came back again and following a penalty and strong drive to the Cockles line only well organised defence kept them out. Cadywould relieved things with a long kick but it was a kick ahead by Jack Downie that set up the Cockles first score. Full back Jaco Steenberg kicked the ball out and from the lineout the ball passed to Matt Hopper who scored, brushing aside two defenders on the way.

With thirty minutes played Exmouth were having a good spell and with half time beckoning the Cockles deservedly took the lead through a Cadywould penalty. The referee played five minutes of injury time during which period Cadywould received the first of three yellow cards handed out to Exmouth players. Ben Nowak converted the penalty to close the first half 8 pts apiece.

With the weather deteriorating Exmouth now faced playing up the slope but within a minute they could have taken the lead through a penalty. With main kicker Cadywould still off the field the kick was missed but minutes later Bracknell’s Ben Nowak made no mistake when he kicked a penalty to give his side a 11pts-8 lead. Things started to go wrong when Tony Emmins was injured and the second Exmouth player was carded. With twelve minutes played another catch and drive was touchéd down by flanker Rudal Aiono and Nowak added the points. Cadywould kept the Cockles in touch with a penalty four minutes later but the awful weather conditions and relentless pick and drive tactics and recycling of the ball by Bracknell were taking their toll.

During the last quarter a three try blitz scored by Kyle Lovell, Nowak and Oliver Jones put paid to Exmouth’s run in the Cup. Although a disappointing result the Exmouth management will be delighted that although no fewer than ten players were unavailable for this game the squad that travelled demonstrated that there is strength in depth and that challenge for selection will be considerable as the second half of the season approaches.