Both Brackley teams put out solid performances on Saturday as the 1st XV beat Thorney 7-3, whilst the Development team lost 15-0.
The 1st XV took the long trip past Peterborough to take on a Thorney side who are notoriously tough at home and no doubt wounded from a heavy defeat the week before. A strong wind blowing straight up the pitch welcomed Brackley and from early on it was obvious that the conditions would play a big part in the match.
The hosts played with the wind in their favour for the first half, using this advantage to keep Brackley pinned in their own 22 for most of the half. The visitors showed impressive defence throughout the match, which frustrated the hosts who came close to scoring several times in the first half. Brackley did show glimpses of what they can do as they looked to run the ball from everywhere but costly turnovers were preventing them from scoring and allowing Thorney to clear their lines. After kicking an easy penalty with 5 minutes to go, Thorney went into the break just 3-0 up.
In the second half the tables were turned as this time Brackley were using the wind to control the territory. However mistakes were costing Brackley who missed several try scoring opportunities due to errors. It took 75 minutes for the first try to be scored, when finally the visitors were rewarded for all of the pressure they were piling on the Thorney defence, as second row Matt Lowe powered over in the corner, which was very well converted by Dan Gray. Despite some desperate late efforts by the hosts, Brackley were able to hold onto their deserved 7-3 win.
Meanwhile at Nightingale Close, the Development Team welcomed Stockwood Park 2nd XV in what was a return fixture from December. Brackley did put in a strong performance but the visitors were too much to cope with as they were able to run out 15-0 winners in a well contested game, that was the first run out of 2020 for the Development Team.
Next week Brackley travel to Kempston, in what is a rescheduled game from before Christmas as the hosts' pitch was waterlogged. This is a great chance for Brackley to move up in the league but is potential banana skin as Kempston are an improved outfit this year.
