Bracknell stung by Hornets

Bracknell 26 Hornets 27

BRACKNELL produced a stirring second-half comeback to earn two bonus points in defeat to Hornets.

Despite the lowly league position of their visitors, Bracknell found themselves 27-0 behind before they finally managed to get on the scoreboard.

And thanks to tries from Vic Hardwicke, Giuseppe Salustri and Ross MacDougall, the home side battled all the way back to within one point of Hornets to at least pick up something from the afternoon.

“The two bonus points hides the fact that we did not perform,” said head coach Daniel ap Dafydd.

“Too many of the lads did not turn up but we hung in there and managed to get something out of the day.”

Hornets began well and took the lead when Courtney Harris crashed over.

Bracknell were struggling to get into the contest and were punished as prop Ben Reseigh crossed the whitewash.

A MacDougall yellow card just before the half was end added more misery and the visitors capitalised on the extra man after the restart as Harris went over again to move 27-0 ahead.

But a sin-binning for Hornets sparked Bracknell into life as they began to mount a comeback with Hardwicke dotting down in the corner.

Another attack soon followed with Juite Tipua held up, but a penalty try was awarded.

Salustri then scored under the posts as the deficit was reduced to just eight points.

And that gap came down to 26-27 when MacDougall also went over underneath the posts with Hardwicke adding the extras.

But there was no time to claw all the way back for victory, meaning Bracknell took the two points to boost their survival bid.

Ap Dafydd’s men go to Ivybridge on Saturday (2.30pm).

BRACKNELL: Hills, Wilson, Burch, Nacamavutu, Tipua, Laidler, MacDougall, Mirza, Clarke (c), Ovens, Bailey, Goodison, Salustri, Sanderson, Halaufia. Reps: Cotterell, Hadad, Hardwicke.