BRACKNELL RFC ended their South West Premier campaign with a flourish as they picked up a bonus-point 43-34 win at Newton Abbot to soar to fifth in the table.

Things began badly for the visitors, though, as the Devonians took a 14th-minute lead through a converted try by wing Kyle Browne before they went further ahead when No. 8 Jarryd Harris crossed and Browne added a second.

Trailing 17-0 after a little more than 20 minutes, Bracknell hit back strongly before the break and got on the scoresheet themselves when a slick backs move was finished off by Gabe Hills. Vic Hardwicke converted to cut the gap to 10 points.

The Lily Hill men continued to dominate possession and went into the break level at 17-17 thanks to a pair of tries from Chris Hala’ufia The visitors moved in front early in the second half when Ian Burch cut through the Newton Abbot defence before off-loading to Hills who went over for his second. Hardwicke landed his conversion and Bracknell led 24-17.

A Rob Avery-Wright penalty cut the deficit to four points, but Ben Sanderson’s try moved the away side 29-20 in front, and Hills then scored a brilliant interception try from deep inside his own 22 – going the length of the field to complete his hat-trick – which Hardwicke converted to put his side 16 points to the good.

Browne completed his hat-trick with a converted score to keep Newton Abbot’s hopes alive, but a second interecption try, this time scored by Peceli Nacavamuto, put Bracknell’s nerves at ease.

Hardwicke added the extras to make it 43-29, and despite a late converted try from Josh Smith, the visitors were able to hang on for a first victory at Newton Abbot since 2015.

Bracknell will finish fifth unless Camborne win at relegation-threatened Exmouth in their final game of the season this coming Saturday.