Brackley RUFC

The matchup between promotion rivals Northampton Mens Own and Brackley went all the way down to the final whistle on Saturday as Brackley narrowly lost 25-22.

With only 2 points separating the teams going into the match, this was always going to be a close game as both Brackley and Mens Own chase promotion. The hosts started on top with their strong running and ability to slow down any ball Brackley did get, frustrating the visitors. Mens Own soon capitalised on their dominance in possession as their fly half managed to break through some unchacteristic weak Brackley defence to score in the right hand corner and make it 5-0.

When they did have the ball Brackley at times look dangerous, however on several occasions they made costly errors just as they looked like they might score against a physical and frustrating Mens Own defence. The visitors did get on the scoreboard though when they forced the hosts to give away a penalty in kickable range, which fly half Mike Lowdell slotted to make it 5-3.

As the first half wore on, Brackley were seemingly starting to get frustrated with decisions not going their way, giving Mens Own possession and the slight territory advantage. The hosts were next to score when a well-executed backs move off a line out saw their influential right winger sprint down the flank and dot down in the corner. Then on the cusp of half time, the visitors exacerbated a penalty in the Mens Own half by talking back to the ref, which led to them being marched back 20 metres allowing the hosts' inside centre to extend the lead to 13-3 at half time.

Mens Own took even more control in the second half putting constant pressure on the Brackley defence and seemingly every time the visitors had the ball they coughed it back up. These mistakes gave the hosts excellent field position which they took advantage off, scoring in the corner. This was followed up with another Mens Own try, when after a clever kick behind, the ball bounced kindly into the arms of their flanker to score near the posts and make it 25-3 and the game seemingly over.

With 20 minutes to go and their season on the line, Brackley seemed to finally wake up and started taking it to Mens Own through the middle. With some fresh legs on the pitch and the visitors now starting to control possession and territory, replacement Jonny Morris powered his way over from close range to narrow the gap. Brackley were showing their fitness as they utilised the pick and go to once again put pressure on the hosts try line, which they eventually crossed as skipper Luke Hallam-Evans reached out to score and make it 25-15.

Brackley were now in desperation mode knowing they need two scores to win the game and not long left to get them. The visitors were battering away at a desperate Mens Own defence and it seemed that Hallam-Evans had scored again but the referee ruled that the hosts had done deliberate foul play in the act of scoring and awarded a penalty try as well as giving Brackley a penalty to restart on the halfway line. With no time left on the clock and Mens Own having given away another penalty in front of the posts, the visitors went for the win but then a metre away from the try line, the ref gave another controversial penalty, this time in favour of the hosts who kicked the ball out to win 25-22.

This was a thrilling game to watch and a heartbreaking loss for Brackley. Whilst mathematically they can still achieve promotion they will need other results to go their way for it to happen. Never the less, Brackley will be looking to win their final three games starting with second place Sileby next week at home.