BRACKNELL RFC made it five wins on the spin with a dramatic 20-19 Berkshire derby success at Maidenhead in their South West Premier clash on Saturday.
The visitors dominated the early phases and in the 12th minute Maidenhead NO. 8 Dave Cole was sin-binned after his side conceded a string of penalties.
Bracknell took the lead courtesy of a Vic Hardwicke penalty, but against the run of play Maidenhead scored the first try of the match when Cole picked up at the base of a scrum and off-loaded for wing Scott Prince to score. Charlie Broughton added the extras to make it 7-3.
The hosts suffered a second yellow card, however, prop Elio Mandozzi given a 10-minute break for a high tackle.
Hardwicke reduced the deficit with a penalty, but Sam Churchyard crashed over at the back of a rolling maul on the stroke of half time to give Maids a 12-6 advantage at the interval.
Bracknell regained the lead 10 minutes into the second period as some slick handling created space for Hardwicke to race clear, the fly-half converting his own try to put the Lily Hill men 13-12 to the good.
Yet Maidenhead looked like they may nick it when Cole dotted down with six minutes remaining, Broughton on target with the conversion.
Maidenhead then won a penalty in front of the Bracknell posts, only to opt to kick to the corner in the hope of securing a try bonus-point.
This back-fired in spectacular fashion, however, with Bracknell being awarded a scrum off the line-out, and then throwing the ball from left to right to go the length of the field for a Simon Bayliss try.
Hardwicke held his nerve to slot the conversion and inflict just a second home defeat of the season on a shocked Maidenhead outfit.
Tenth-placed Bracknell host Newton Abbot in their final game of the season on Saturday.
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