Dragon's Teeth earn win at Bracknell

After a long, hot summer and a long, hot warm up, the Dragon’s Teeth were ready to put all their pre-season work into practice.

Bracknell kicked off and the Teeth got stuck in with some good possession within the forwards. Making their way into the Bracknell 22, Roddy Clark kicked a penalty to get the scoreboard started. 0-3.

With the slope in their favour, Bracknell came looking for points and found them with some wide play, scoring in the corner with a tricky conversion to match. 7-3

Returning to the Bracknell half, a mix of strong forward play and running lines from the backs, saw Sam Williams cross the try line to open his account for the club. 7-8.

With continuing forward pressure after the restart, it was only a matter of time until the forwards (new found winger) crossed the try line again. Matthew Edwards filling in for the injured Rushton taking the glory. Converted. 7-15

In tit-for-tat fashion, Bracknell nibbled away at the Teeth’s try line. The Strong defence eventually cracked and with a yellow card to boot (Barrows), the game drew close yet again.

Halftime score: 14-15

Water and team talks over, the second half restarted with the Teeth heading down the slope.

Keen to capitalise on the man advantage, Bracknell came on the offence and cracked the Teeth defence through the middle. 21-15

Returning to the Bracknell half, Clark took advantage of Bracknell ill-discipline with a simple 3, after missing a valiant long-range effort moments earlier. 21-18

With the scores tight once again, Bracknell used wide ball against the Teeth defence, scoring in the corner. Too wide for the conversion on this occasion. 26-18

Knowing they had a job to do, the Teeth forwards set about returning to the Bracknell 22. After a number of forward carries and quick tap penalties, Sam Longley powered over from short range. Clark adding the extras. 26-25

With just a single point separating the two team yet again, the Teeth tried pinning Bracknell in their own half. After a few kicks with a little too much on them, the Teeth forwards finally got their lineout 15 metres out. With Bracknell choosing not to compete, the forwards got the taste for the whitewash and charged over the line. Ben Barrows taking the glory and paying back his yellow card. The all-important conversion from Clark. 26-32

Four minutes on the clock and a six-point lead to defend, the Teeth knew they had to dig deep. Bracknell piled on the pressure with territory, knowing that a converted try was needed.

The Teeth defence held strong, but breaches had been found earlier so was another on the cards?

Bracknell looked to play wide but were bundled into touch. With moments left on the clock, the lineout that had been unfiltered all day... faltered.

The scrums had gone uncontested and the Teeth we’re defending their line from 10 metres out. With the pressure high, the defence pushed Bracknell wide and into touch. The touch judge’s flag prompting the referee's whistle.

FT 26-32

A perfect 5 point start to the season for the Dragon’s Teeth and reward for a hard summer of training.

Next week, we host Buckingham IIs.

Tries: S. Williams, M. Edwards, S. Longley, B. Barrows
Conversations: R. Clark (3)
Penalties: R. Clark (2)