Bracknell fighting fit

BRACKNELL, UK – Last season’s Play-Off champions Bracknell Hornets have returned to form in recent weeks, and winger Grant Rounding believes that the team’s improved fitness level has been key.   As 2010 closed, fans and players involved with the Bracknell Hornets could look back on the calendar year with mixed emotions. The success gained at the end of the 2009/10 season earned the team its first silverware of their history; however the squad was largely broken up as players were poached by other clubs or followed Coach Gareth Cox into the EPL with parent outfit Bracknell Bees.

  With a younger and less experienced Hornets side icing at the start of the 2010/11 season, expectations were rightly lowered in most quarters. Despite a decent start, a run of defeats in October saw new Coach Ben Pitchley leave his post to be replaced by Czech Lukas Smital. Guildford Flames Star Smital has been running training sessions, whilst the bench has been organised by Bill Webb with assistance from Danny Hughes and Luke Reynolds.   The Hornets continued to struggle against the better resourced teams in the league with no real turn around in form, however in late December the Berkshire side shocked Cardiff ENL Devils 9-2 in Wales to start a run of form that has seen them beat Swindon twice before holding top of the league Wightlink Raiders to a 3-3 tie last weekend.   The return of Tom Avery and last season’s top scorer Ben Duggan was an undoubted boost to the Hornets fortunes, however team mate Rounding believes that the pair’s return only tells part of the story.                 “Yeah we have finally found some form” explained the Johannesburg born forward, who moved to the UK when only three years old.   “Obviously having guys like Duggy and Avery come back is always going to be a massive boost but the main reason would have to be the experience and systems that Smits is passing onto us”

Hughes (Tim Bowers)

  “One of our main philosophies is to be the fittest team in the league, which I think is shown in our games when we generally dominate in the third periods. The team has also found that fighting spirit from last year which was the key for us winning the Play-Offs”   Despite the good run of form, the Hornets have been infuriatingly inconsistent this season. Outstanding wins over Chelmsford, Oxford and Cardiff, along with holding Wightlink and Romford to ties (the latter twice), have been countered by defeats against lower ranking teams like Bristol and Swindon.   One consistency however has been the goal scoring form of Rounding, who along with Captain Danny Hughes, Alan Lack and Tony Barclay has contributed the most points to the Hornets campaign. With eleven goals so far this season, Rounding is the Hornets top goal scorer and has shown character to bounce back after two seasons ravaged with injury.   “It’s good to be back in the kind of form I left the Under 18’s with three years ago” said Rounding, who has suffered two broken collar bones and a twisted knee in that time.   “I have only really played about fifteen games fully fit over those two seasons, and it was always going to be a struggle to find some good form”   “I put in some hard work over the summer with Joe Webb of JW Training and it’s starting to pay off, especially as I’ve now played more games including with the Bees than I have in the last three years”

Success last season (Lewis Cleveland)

  Rounding’s excursions with the struggling Bees in the EPL has seen him join many of last years trophy winning squad in nine games so far this year. Experience at a higher level is something that Rounding is relishing, and is hoping will become more common in the future.   “It’s good to finally have the opportunity to play for Bees” admitted Rounding, who has also played as a Centre this season where required.   “With the Bees having a few hard seasons, a few of us youngsters at the club have been unlucky not to be given the chance sooner. Now that they’re moving in the right direction I’m getting the opportunity and would hope to get a permanent spot next year if I keep working hard”   Bracknell currently sit in seventh position in the English National League and face a tough trip to in-form Chelmsford Chieftains this Sunday at the Riverside before hosting Oxford City Stars the following weekend.   Contact the author david.carr@prohockeynews.com