Early start for the players and supporters as we arrived at 9.00am for a 10.00am KO. Drawn in a pool of 6 along with Hertford, Eton Manor, Blackheath, Upminster and Maldon with the winners going into a cup final and 2nd going into a 3rd/4th place play-off.
First up Hertford who looked big and organised and with them being a bit of an unknown opponent the players were fired up from the start, playing basic rugby very well they wore down their opponents denying them possession of the ball and scoring 4 times to win the game 20-0.After over an hours wait our next opponents were fellow Essex club Upminster, the wait seemed to frustrate Braintree and they took their frustrations out on their opponents with an aggressive dominant performance winning 30-0. Next up were Eton Manor who looked apprehensive from the start and Braintree took full advantage winning 30-0 the game being stopped just after half-time. Next game was to prove our hardest pool game against the ever improving Maldon and although Braintree won 10-0 our opponents played hard competitive rugby and tested Braintree throughout. Our final game was against Blackheath who had looked inexperienced all day and were perhaps a development side, Braintree winning 30-0 again the game being stopped under the RFU score difference rule.
And so Braintree won the pool and were through to the cup final against Old Brentwoods a new team to our regular playing circuit as they are a hybrid of both Chelmsfords 'A' squad and Brentwoods 'A' squad from last season!! Its fair to say they were up for the game as most of their players had limited success against us at their previous clubs, it's also fair to say they have become stronger since joining forces. The final was played at a ferocious pace with Braintree really fired up and as the game progressed Braintree began to dominate the breakdown which allowed them most of the possession of the ball, with the game especially going into the second half, being played predominantly in the OB's half. OB's defended heroically but Braintree kept their normal pressure game going and were forcing OB's further back, conceding penaltys as they defended their try line, Braintree were then adjudged to have been held up after eventually crossing the try line, and after further attacking pressure which forced a scrum 5 metres from the OB's try line an injury to an OB's player which required treatment and the usual and necessary checks from the medics forced the referee to call time on the game with it finishing 0-0. Joint winners although OB's did win the toss for the bigger trophy !!
A good days rugby with Braintree once again producing some outstanding aggressive Rugby, a long day with the final not being played until 3.30pm, a new opponent has emerged and we look forward to meeting them (which I'm sure we will) in the final coming months of the season!!

Report done in Sonyas absence normal service will resume next week!