Win ensures Bracknell avoid relegation

Newton Abbot 34 Bracknell 43

BRACKNELL ensured they would be competing in the South West Premier again next season with a highscoring victory at Newton Abbot.

The equation was simple for Bracknell with victory mathematically staving off relegation, but they knew it would be tough having ot won this fixture since 2015.

The Devon side took an early lead when Kyle Browne brushed off challenges to break the deadlock before Jarryd Harris also crashed over the try-line.

A third try quickly followed for Newton

Abbot midway through the first half, but Gabe Hills responded with Bracknell’s first try of the afternoon.

And the scores were level at 17-17 by half-time thanks to a Chris Hala’ufia brace.

Ian Burch then completed the comeback after weaving through the defence, only for Rob Avery-Wright to hit back for the hosts.

A Ben Sanderson score put Bracknell back in front in the topsy-turvy clash and the lead was healthy after Hills sprinted the length of the field to score under the posts with Vic Hardwicke’s conversion opening up a 16-point cushion.

Newton Abbot responded in the closing stages, but Bracknell held on to win 43-34 to leap up to fifth in the table.

They could still drop to sixth depending on other results this weekend, but Daniel ap Dafydd’s men are assured a top half finish in the tight table.

BRACKNELL: Hills, Burch, Sanderson, Nacamavuto, Elliott, Hardwicke, Walton, Mirza, Clarke (c), Dowding, Bailey, Goodison, Salustri, Haddad, Hala’ufia.