Windsor will have their work cut out as they look to bounce back from loss
Windsor will look to bounce back from their disappointing defeat at bottom-of-the-table Grove when they visit a Bracknell side pushing for promotion from South West 1 East this Saturday.
The game was initially scheduled for before Christmas but was postponed due to the RFU’s concerns over the spread of COVID.
When the sides met at Home Park in September, the Royals frustrated their opponents in the first half before being overwhelmed in the second and losing 34-0.
Bracknell thumped Buckingham 41-19 to move to within three points of second placed Oxford Harlequins and seven of leaders Banbury. Windsor are 10th having slipped seven points behind ninth placed Witney.
“They’re playing pretty well,” said head coach Neal Kennedy.
“They have a few injuries but they’re still a very good team and will want to stay in that top three position to gain promotion.
“They’ll be gunning for a five-point win and are obviously favourites because of where they are in the league.
“When we played them last time it was 0-0 at half-time but they got on top of us in the second half and ran out 34-0 winners.
“For me the initial aim is a good performance, and with a good performance hopefully comes points and hopefully with points comes a win.
“We have a few people out but we’ll still have a strong enough squad to go there and be competitive and we’re not going to roll over.
“Unlike the first time we want to show them we’re more than just a one-half team.”
W Marlow’s hopes of pushing for a top four finish in Southern Counties
North suffered a setback as they were narrowly beaten 27-24 at Aylesbury. Rory Greenslade-Jones’ side gave as good as they got against their third placed hosts but ultimately came up just a little short.
They remain just three points behind fourth placed High Wycombe, who were beaten 38-24 at home by lowly Bicester.
This Saturday they face another tough test, on the road to second placed Reading.
W In the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Premier Division, Slough’s poor run of form continued as they were beaten 60-5 at home by third placed Didcot.
Having made a promising start to the season, the Greenies have now lost their last six league matches, falling to seventh in the table.
They’ll hope to stop the rot in their next match at home to Drifters on Saturday, February 12.