Rugby suffered yet another away defeat but this was a very intense, interesting game with Bracknell's win taking them back to the top of the table.

Bracknell have a fine pack while Lions had to cope with the absence of Steve Smith and Paul Shadbolt.

Bracknell dominated possession throughout the first half and should have led from a second minute penalty which was pulled wide. Rugby's defence held out on the greasy surface but they only very rarely threatened the half way line, let alone the tryline. Winger Rob Porteous did break down the right, but when he kicked ahead he was unlucky to see the ball roll dead across the stickiest area of the field.

Rugby did well, in the circumstances, to keep the game scoreless at the interval and Bracknell must have had doubts about their inability to turn huge territorial advantage into points.

The home side resumed their incessant attacks on the restart, however, and full back Mike Kenworthy broke the deadlock with two penalties in a five minute period.

Then a Bracknell penalty 10 metres out was reversed for a foul off the ball. Rugby made their way upfield and fly half Barry Muir kicked a penalty.

Muir then levelled the scores with another penalty on the hour and Rugby looked the more likely winners at this stage.

Unaccountably, some Lions ignored team instructions and looked to take on the Bracknell pack or break infield when the call was to run the ball wide and stretch the Bracknell defence.

This proved decisive when Kenworthy was able to restore Bracknell's lead with his third penalty nine minutes from time.

Rugby had a final chance but infringed on their own line-out in the home 22 and the game was lost.

MATCH FACTS

RUGBY LIONS:
Coley; Saunders; Tassell; Hyde; Porteous; Muir; Becconsall; Muckalt; Tovo; Wingham; Field; Collier; Greenbury; Dunn; B Smith
Replacements: Woolrich; Davies; Turner