ILL-DISCIPLINE cost Worcester Wanderers dear as Bracknell made the numerical advantage count to secure a 23-14 win at Hill Park on Saturday.
At full strength Wanderers were in the contest against their Berkshire opponents, but two yellow cards at key moments swung the tie the hosts’ way as they racked up 20 point when Worcester were down to 14 men.
The first came inside the opening four minutes when Richard Ralph saw yellow after he pulled down a driving maul just short of the try-line.
When the loose-head prop returned ten minutes later his side were 12-0 down following tries from George Milligan and Stuart Mackay.
Liam Prescott added a penalty moments later, but with 15 men on the field Worcester began to find their feet.
The visitors were soon bossing proceedings as the game headed into the final ten minutes of the first half.
Bracknell defended well for long spells before their resistance was broken as a flowing passage of play saw Alex Flower go over after exchanging passes with Kieran Morris. Mike Dodge landed the conversion to leave Worcester trailing 15-7 at half time.
After withstanding early pressure, Wanderers then got themselves to within a point of Bracknell when Dodge coolly converted his bother Mike’s well-taken try.
But the flanker soon went from hero to villain just before the hour mark when he was sent to the sin-bin.
This proved pivotal as Prescott fired home the resulting penalty before Bracknell took control of proceedings.
And Worcester could not hang on to a losing bonus point as Ben Nowak’s try put the game out of the visitors’ reach.
Director of rugby Stuart James will be hoping his side can keep 15 men on the pitch when they take on high-flying Old Redcliffians at Weston Field this Saturday (3pm).