"At Least Brackley Turned Up"

Brackley turned up with only 12 players and no front row so the game went ahead on an uncontested scrum basis and with Heathens reducing the numbers differential to one by loaning John Marlow to the visitors and playing 14 against 13 men. The host’s generosity backfired as the fleet footed Brackley players revelled in the extra space created with their #15 [was a he a fullback or a wing?] enjoying an open-field day.

The visitors went into an early 0-14 lead following converted tries on 9 and 11 minutes. Heathens’ hooker Viorel Marin was in support of some driving forward play to score an unconverted try on 17 minutes [5-14]. Brackley then found more space and crossed for an unconverted try on 22 minutes [5-19] and a further unconverted try on 25 minutes [5-24]. Heathens then managed to regroup and exert an element of control to their play that saw centre Connor O’Brien cross for an unconverted in the 29th minute [10-19] that was swiftly added to when he scored his second try 7 minutes later when he benefitted from a switch in play from a scrum to make the score 15-24 at the half time whistle.

The second half opening was a virtual recreation of the first when Brackley claimed converted scores on 44 and 46 minutes to leave Heathens facing a long half 23 points adrift [15-38] with 34 minutes remaining. Once again Heathens regained an element of composure through the leadership of stand in skipper and number 10 Gareth Ivett urging some tightened forward play. This resulted in centre Andy Ingate [who shared the hosts man of match awards with Ivett] running some excellent lines and narrowing the differential with a try on 55 minutes that was converted by Connor O’Brien [22-38].

A flurry of scoring the ensured with Brackley scoring on 60 minutes [22-43] with Heathens responding a minute later with an individual score from winger Jake Doyle [27-43] then from opposite winger Mark Allison a further minute later with a try that was converted by prop Simon Smith [34-43]. Heathens were now back in the match with a 9 point differential and 10 minutes to play. Despite pressure on the Brackley line the visitors broke away in the 75th minute to seal the match 35-48 with the final score of the afternoon.

Heathens were unable to match the fleetness of the Brackley runners who were more suited to the open spaces caused by the lack of numbers and the consolation that the majority of their scores were well constructed team efforts as opposed to individualistic.

Next Saturday Heathens scheduled fixture is away against Leighton Buzzard 3rd XV in a friendly that sees the return to 15:00 kick-offs.