Bracknell 30 – 22 Marlborough
On Saturday, the 1st XV travelled down the M4 to Bracknell for the return fixture in the Tribute South West 1 East league. The last time the two sides met was back in November, when Bracknell took the win, but there was only three points in it. Sadly, the result was the same this time around, but the difference was eight points. It was always going to be a tough ask as Bracknell lie in third position in the league compared to Marlborough who are in ninth.
The rest week probably didn’t do Marlborough any favours, as they had come off the boil from the previous game where they had a win after the drought. Marlborough’s start was not great, with two unforced errors and the penalty count going in the wrong direction. Bracknell managed to get the ball over the posts and take a three-point lead.
Marlborough slowly started to get into the game, but a slight mix up in defence, allowed the home side to get an unconverted try. Marlborough seemed to struggle with keeping hold of the ball, though the conditions were quite good compared to the norm for this season. There was a slight breeze, but they have played in far worse. The boys looked to be trying to force the game, then Lemeki Moala (Meki) managed to crash over the line after thirty minutes which was then converted by the returning Will Cowan-Dickie.
Not long afterwards, Marlborough lost Aaron James (full back), who suffered concussion. Elisi quickly had to rejig the back line to cover the loss. Even so, Marlborough managed to get another try through Ben Soso which sadly was unconverted, in the last play of the first half.
Half Time: Bracknell 8 – Marlborough 12
Though the boys came out with a spring in their step, sadly their start did not go to plan, and they struggled to keep any possession of the ball. Within five minutes, Bracknell scored again, taking back the lead with an unconverted try. Then five minutes later the home side was awarded a penalty try.
On the sixtieth minute, Bracknell scored another try, the game was slipping away from Marlborough, then to add more salt to the wound, Siaosi Feaomefiui (Toti) had to come off the field through concussion. Again, players had to be taken out of position; Ollie Spanswick was moved from the back row to centre, pushing Joe Pittams out to the wing – not their happiest of places, but needs must.
Ollie Spanswick was forced to take a ten minute forced break through earning a yellow card.
This seemed to ignite the fire in Marlborough’s belly, they got their heads down, improved their work rate, and started taking territory and keeping possession of the ball. Savenaca Vueta started to make some dominant runs from the midfield and crashed over to score another Marlborough try on the sixty fifth minute.
On the seventieth minute, Will Cowan-Dickie scored a penalty, leaving Marlborough ten minutes to get a converted try for the win, that was all they needed and this didn’t seem impossible as they were starting to get the upper hand. Then Bracknell cruelly crushed Marlborough’s hopes, to their credit, Bracknell’s defence was outstanding through large sections of the game, holding out to almost the last play of the game when they kicked a penalty for the win.
The game was a bit of a mixed bag for Marlborough, there were some good periods of play but there were also periods of silly mistakes and difficulty in making decisions. Team Manager, Dave Pittams stressed that “they did show great character to fight their way back into what was starting to look like a lost cause. Also, for the countless times this season, players were having to play out of position due to the ongoing injury issues. One of these who deserves a special mention is young Kit Major. A scrum half playing only his first season of senior rugby and played the whole game out on the wing and who put up a very creditable performance”.
It was great to welcome back from injury, Will Cowan- Dickie. The two new additions to the team in the form of Ben Soso and Savenaca Vueta (Man of the match) made themselves visible in what is only their third game for Marlborough. It was also good to see Tommy Elbrow back playing in the side, he was doing his very best to demolish his opponents as and when he could, which is something that he very much enjoys, even from his days playing in the colts. Then of course, Jack Lynd back in his second game this year, was making his presence felt on the pitch, never one to shy away from contact.
Next Saturday, Marlborough welcome Buckingham (currently in twelfth position in the league) up to the Common. Sadly, the weather is probably not going to be very spring like, more like put your thermals and heavy coats back on. The last time the teams met, Marlborough won quite convincingly, so let’s hope the same result can be achieved on home turf. As the clocks have now gone forward, kick off will be at 3:00 pm.
Marlborough’s Twinning conundrum solved – maybe?
