BRAINTREE began the promotion-seeking second phase of their season in calamitous fashion as they slumped to an unexpected defeat away to a game Millwall side.
Having beaten their opponents 35-15 in the return fixture at Robbs Wood the black and ambers were confident of completing the double over the London Docklands-based outfit.
But far too many of Tree’s players had an off-day and Millwall’s fired up troops were more than willing to make them pay for their tardiness as they powered to a deserved win.
The game started brightly for the visitors with Craig Willis crossing the try line after just five minutes only to have the score ruled out by the ref for reasons that remain unclear.
Millwall were jolted into action and immediately went on the attack, using the wind to venture into Tree’s half for the first time, opening the scoring with an unconverted try two minutes later. 5-0.
The visitors regained the initiative for the next 20 minutes but suffered a bad injury to their kicker and winger Kyle Crush, who limped off to be replaced by Lloyd Hardin.
Tree were dominating the scrum dominance but failing to turn possession into points as they came up against an impressively well-drilled Millwall defence.
It came as little surprise when after 24 minutes the men from the Isle of Dogs grabbed a second unconverted try from a slick catch and drive line out move. 10-0.
Tree appeared to be struggling for a game plan and the numerous enforced changes were clearly not helping them.
But they hit back on 37 minutes when number eight John Smillie crashed over to score following a series of strong scrums during which the visitors were denied a clear penalty try.
The windy conditions made accurate kicking difficult and the subsequent conversion was missed, with Millwall going in 10-5 leaders at the break and everything to play for.
Tree had the wind behind them in the second half but it was nullified by the sterling efforts of their opponents’ energised defence.
On 45 minutes Millwall ran another catch and drive move which the referee deemed to have been collapsed by Chris Halford, awarding the hosts a penalty try and the player a harsh yellow card.
The score was converted to give the Londoners a 17-5 lead, forcing Tree’s management team into introducing replacements in a bid to spark a revival.
But the next phase of play saw Millwall on the attack once again, forcing a push-over try from five metres out to extend their lead to 22-5.
Tree drove upfield straight from the re-start and a prolonged period of attacks resulted in Wes Apps crashing over to score from close range, Willis converting to reduce the arrears to 22-12.
But the remainder of the game was a messy affair, with Tree’s heads dropping as their efforts to get back into the mix proved fruitless.
Two late Millwall penalties, a further yellow card for replacement Paul Aldridge and an injury to Smillie did little to help their cause, and they were unable to trouble the scoreboard again.
A philosophical Aldridge said after the game: “Millwall deserved their victory and defended admirably throughout the game.
“We looked like a side who fail to train together and are relying on the skill of a few individuals rather than a robust game plan.
“Chris Halford, James Jones and Wes Apps all put in a decent shift but the rest of us know we could and should have done much better.”
Tree, who dropped to third in Canterbury Jack Essex One after the reverse, now have to wait until a week on Saturday (Feb 13) for a chance to make amends.
But they face a very tough assignment as they will be taking on league leaders East London on their own turf, although they did record an impressive 34-15 victory over them earlier this month.
BRUFC: Whyatt, J Moore, Crane, Adams, K Crush, Willis, Page, Halford, Sewell, Jones, Fitzearle, Apps, Carslake, C Stephens, Smillie. Reps: Aldridge, Hardin, Dawson.