BRAINTREE RUGBY UNION FOOTBALL CLUB 2016/17 SEASON.
Any copy queries to BRUFC Publicity Officer John Troup on 07860-179347.
Report by D Gilder and J Troup

BRAINTREE...23 WISBECH...15 (RFU Junior Vase)

BRAINTREE carried their league form into the cup on Saturday as they edged a win against a strong Wisbech side in the RFU Junior Vase.
Tree started very strongly and opened their account after just five minutes when Fergus Rollit-Mason crossed the line after quick ruck ball and fast hands enabled John Smillie to break.
Ten minutes later they extended their lead to 12-0 when they were awarded a penalty try following a high tackle.
Taking the scrum option due to their early superiority in the pack they drove for the line and were only stopped when Wisbech collapsed the scrum, Craig Willis notching the conversion.
On 25 minutes the black and ambers went 17-0 ahead when a spell of good possession from a succession of rucks across the width of the pitch ended with second row Wes Apps crashing over.
But a couple of missed tackles from the re-start allowed Wisbech’s impressive number eight to break clear and reduce the arrears with a try of his own. 17-5.
This was quickly followed by another when the visitors kicked a penalty to touch before setting up a catch and drive move from the resulting lineout which gave them their second try. 17-10.
Willis had the last word of the half when Tree sensibly made use of his reliable boot to take three further points from a penalty award to give them a 20-10 interval lead.
What turned out to be a rather dour second half started brightly enough when Willis kicked another penalty two minutes in to notch what proved to be Tree’s last points of the game. 23-10.
The affair became a bit of an arm wrestle with Tree having to work hard on their defence, which remained resolute until a harsh yellow card saw them reduced to 14 men.
From the resulting penalty the Cambridgeshire side once more kicked to touch before scoring from a driving maul to give the home side some nervous late moments. 23-15.
BRUFC Chair of Selectors David Gilder said: “It was a good win for us in a competition that we decided to target at the start of the season.
“We started very strongly again but then had to contend with a very early reshuffle in the backs after losing our fly-half Josh Hine to injury.
“Our strong start won the game for us and once again the much practised defence plays proved invaluable.”
BRUFC Joint Coach Brian Joslin added: “It was a very tough game, probably our toughest of the season to date.
“We looked comfortable leading 17-0 after 30 minutes and were seemingly cruising but we lost four key players to injury in quick succession and subsequently lost a bit of direction.
“To their credit Wisbech took advantage of this and we were forced to dig really deep and hang on for the win.”
Tree will be hoping to continue their 100 per cent start to the season this coming weekend when they entertain Burnham-on-Crouch in Canterbury Jack Essex One.
• Braintree’s academy side took another impressive scalp on Sunday when they beat Shelford 19-0 at Robbs Wood in the third round of the National Colts Cup.
BRUFC: Drew, Abbott, Adams, Willis, Rollit-Mason, Hine, Page, M Turner, Sewell, Prince, Apps, Carslake, W Turner, Benfield, Smillie. Reps: J Moore, Perry, Johnston, Spearman.