Deepings let standards slip in upset loss to Brackley

Clayton Bell (right, 18) who made his first start for Deepings 1st XVs on Saturday alongside dad Clint and older brother Charlie (21).

Frustrated Deepings coach Tim Edwards branded his side’s display against rock-bottom Brackley at Linchfield Road as “shoddy”.

The Northamptonshire side’s league position may be a false one, having been docked points earlier in the season, but the Green Machine let an 8-3 lead slip in the closing stages of the game.

Edwards said: “I’m very disapppointed because the boys were great in training during the week and they were really up for it.

“But they just didn’t perform and then Brackley got a try at the end after driving in at the lineout.

“The game itself was not the prettiest and the hailstones that came down during the game didn’t help.

“But Brackley just took us on up front and we didn’t have any answers.

“Brackley had some driving mauls which worked realy well and we did a couple of nice things.

“But they were so few and far between that the only plus point was Clayton Bell (18) who, starting his first game for the 1st XVs, did a sound job.

“Maybe we went into the game thinking ‘we’re going to win this one’, but Brackley deserved it.”

Meanwhile, Bourne’s game at Northampton Men’s Own was called off due to a waterlogged pitch.