French denied hat-trick in close encounter

HENLEY Colts edged out visiting Bracknell Colts by three points at Dry Leas last Sunday.

The home side started the game quickly with powerful carries from the forwards before Elliot Deacon took the ball to the line but was caught just short. The ball was recycled and captain Jack Bradbury spotted a hole to dive in to give Henley the perfect start.

Bracknell hit back immediately with a take from the restart that put them on to the front foot as they controlled the phases to power their way over. With their confidence high they dominated the next part of the game. Their line-out was working well and this was where their score came from, a rolling maul that Henley tried to stop but a player spun out and sprinted in.

Henley regained their composure through Bradbury and powerful runs from Josh Everett soon got them back into the Bracknell red zone. It was a charge down that got the home side the next score, Henry French the quickest to react as he controlled the ball to dot down.

French was soon on the score sheet again, when a grubber kick from Bradbury bounced into his arms as he outran the defence. This put Henley 15-12 ahead at half-time.

The second half was a tight affair. Bracknell had the majority of the territory but it was Henley in their first visit to the visitors’ red zone that came away with the points. Strong carries from the impressive Adam Bennett took Henley close to the line. Lucas Coleman then went even closer, before Bradbury found winger Huw Marung with a fine pass for him to score in the corner.

Henley thought they had scored another, with French in for his hat-trick, only to be denied by the referee. Bracknell came back and made the last few minutes and crashed over with the last play of the game.