Published: Tuesday, 23rd February, 2010 12:00pm

Bracknell produce best display of the season

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BRACKNELL RFC head coach Ken Hopkins believes his side have now set the benchmark for the rest of the season after a thumping win over Havant on Saturday.

The south coast outfit beat the Lily Hill Park boys when they met earlier in the season. But Hopkins' side got their revenge in stunning fashion with a nine-try 67-0 win.

Last week Hopkins admitted Bracknell had yet to find top form in 2010. And now having hit the heights, he is keen for his side to maintain that level of performance.

He said: "It was a nine-try demolition.

"That was the first time we have truly played for 80 minutes all season, without any spasms of indiscipline or loss of concentration. It is the first time we have kept a clean sheet, so I can't really have any quibbles about the performance.

"There are two things which particularly pleased me. First of all we had been leading handsomely in our previous game at half-time, before switching off in the second half. That never happened on Saturday.

"We had a 20-point lead at half-time and then went on to score 47 points in the second half with some great tries.

"Secondly, our discipline was much better. In the previous game we had two players sent to the bin, which helped Dorking to get back into the game.

"On Saturday our penalty count was much lower and that allowed us to dominate.

"We have a big weekend coming up with Haywards Heath in the league on Saturday and Redingensians in the Berkshire Cup semi-final on Sunday, so we will be looking for two more good performances."

On Saturday Bracknell put in a controlled performance in the first half before cutting loose after the break.

Flanker Kyle Lovell started the ball rolling with the opening try before his back row partner Niko Maybury grabbed the second just before half-time.

Skipper Ben Nowak converted both and added two penalties to put Bracknell well in control.

Bracknell started the second half with a bang and lock Andrew Ball's first senior try for the club was quickly followed by Maybury's second of the day to put them 34-0 in front.

Fit-again Jervis Manupenu then got in on the act before Maybury completed his hat-trick with just 58 minutes gone.

Stuart Mackay and Kevin McKenzie then crossed before Lovell's second try completed the rout.

Hopkins added: "Early in the second half we knew we had already won and probably for the first time this season the players were able to relax and enjoy their rugby.

"We played some great stuff and hopefully we can continue that going into this weekend.

"Ben kicked eight out of nine conversions. And the one that he missed hit the post. He is kicking very well at the moment and with a lot of confidence."

Hopkins was also impressed again with Ball in the second row, who built on his man of the match debut against Dorking.

He said: "He scored a great individual try. He collected the ball from a lineout and ran the ball in.

"He has had two very good games now and has emerged at exactly for the right time for us because Kenny Barry is out with an eye injury, Pete Hill is injured and Jason Borcherds is unavailable this weekend."

Bracknell: Astbury, Burch, Jones, Nowak, Mackay, Manupenu, Ap Dafyyd; Mirza, Surman, Hoskins, Ball, Borcherds, Lovell, Diack, Maybury. Subs: Barry, Kemlsey, McKenzie.

* TOP try-scorer Kevin Mckenzie made his long-awaited return to the Bracknell side after a successful stint at the Las Vegas Sevens playing for Caribbean champions Guyana.

McKenzie scored a try as his side claimed a shock 12-12 draw with France in the group stages of the international tournament last week.

And on Saturday he repeated the trick by coming off the bench to score Bracknell's eighth try.

Despite missing a large part of the season because of his sevens commitments McKenzie remains Bracknell's top try-scorer with 11.

And head coach Ken Hopkins is hopeful he is now here to stay for the rest of the campaign.

He said: "We are hoping that that is it now and that we will have Kevin for the rest of the season.

"He probably didn't see quite as much of the ball as he would have liked on Saturday, but he still scored a good try and

we are glad to have him back."