Hopkins - We Havant peaked yet

Sportsdesk • Published 17 Feb 2010 11:28 0 Comments

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BRACKNELL RFC head coach Ken Hopkins admits his side have not yet hit top form in 2010.

The Lily Hill Park boys got back to winning ways in National Three London last Saturday with a nerve-shattering 28-27 win over Dorking.

But Hopkins revealed that the game reminded him of October's disappointing 30-19 defeat against this weekend's opponents Havant.

And he has challenged his side to get back to their best in time for Saturday's revenge mission against the Portsmouth outfit.

He said: "It is good to get back on track with a win after losing to Old Albanians, but we left it until the last minute.

"When they scored with two minutes to go I thought it was going to go the same way as the Havant game from earlier in the season.

"We won on Saturday, but we were not at our best and we will need to improve for the weekend.

"They are one of only three teams to beat us this season, so we have even more reason than usual to go out and get a result.

"Last time we played them we felt we should have won, but we gifted them the result.

"We are at home on Saturday but we cannot leave anything to chance this time, we have to go out and perform."

Last weekend Bracknell stormed into a 22-3 half-time lead as they looked to be on their way to a comfortable win.

Lock Jason Borcherds celebrated his return to the team with the opening try on five minutes, before Stuart Mackay grabbed the second after 22 minutes.

Hawaiian winger Sione 'Pila' Taufa then marked his full debut for the club with a try, while skipper Ben Nowak, back on kicking duties, knocked over seven first half points.

Bracknell looked to be cruising until Dorking crossed twice in the opening 20 minutes of the second half.

And when they grabbed their third try in the dying minutes it put them in front for the first time 27-25.

However, Bracknell were awarded a penalty in stoppage time and Nowak slotted the ball over for a much-needed win.

Hoplins, pictured left, said: "Leading 22-3 at half-time you would expect us to win comfortably, but we were sloppy and let them right back into the game.

"There was a very signifcant slope on the pitch. I would say it gave a pronounced advantage to the team playing that way.

"At half-time we were not sure if 19 points would be enough and then we made a lot of errors.

"But we showed good character to get the result in the end.

"Ben typified that. There are no easy kicks when the pressure is on."

Hopkins was full of praise for Hawaiian debutant Taufa and believes he can make an impact at the club.

He said: "It is very difficult for him. He is used to playing in the heat and to come over here in the middle of our winter, it is a big challenge.

"But he acquitted himself well. He said to me at the end that he had never played a game at this level before.

"He has a lot to learn from an experience point of view, but he is very fast and will continue to improve the more he plays."

And Hopkins also reserved praise for another debutant, Andy Ball, who came into the second row and picked up the man of the match award.

Hopkins added: "He is a former Bracknell youth player who went away to university, but is now back living in the area.

"We were delighted with him. Kenny Barry pulled out with a virus and we put him in and he did a good job for us.

"We have a good blend of young local lads and a few other experienced guys at the club, so it is always good to see someone like Andy come back."

Bracknell: Abrahams, Taufa, Jones, Nowak, Mackay, Astbury, Ap Dafydd; Mirza, Surman, Hoskins, Borcherds, Ball, Lovell, Diack, Maybury. Subs: Clarke, Kemsley, Burch

* Bracknell 2nds made sure of a club double over Dorking by winning the Canterbury Shield clash between the two sides on Saturday.

Luke Carter picked up the man of the match award, while Tom King, Ollie Jordan and Hawaiian centre Andrew 'Telu' Malafu also impressed in the 24-3 win.

* Broadmoor produced one of their best displays of season against Phoenix on Saturday to stay in pole position in the Berks Bucks & Oxon Premier Division.

The Crowthorne-based side conceded an early try before romping to a 47-12 win.

Dan Harvey, Dave Abbott, Andy Keen, Ross Yates, Sam Short, Alex Stewart and Ben Yates all scored tries in the victory.

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