BRAINTREE returned to winning ways with a hard fought away victory which kept their slim hopes of promotion alive.
consecutive defeats away to Millwall and East London had left the black and ambers chances of returning to a higher level looking decidedly shaky.
But Saturday’s win leaves them handily located in third place of Essex One, with all three of their remaining league games at home.
Tree had to ring the changes for the visit to Bancroft’s Buckhurst Hill headquarters, with no fewer than nine alterations to the side beaten by East London the previous week.
And the appalling playing conditions didn’t make their task any easier, with strong wind and driving rain making handling tricky at the best of times.
The game started well for the visitors who forced Bancroft into conceding a penalty as they drove the ball forward after receiving the kick-off.
Inside centre Joss Adams kicked the penalty into the opposition’s 22 and Tree won the line-out before forcing another penalty out of the hosts just short of their try line.
Electing for a scrum they won possession and worked the ball wide to outside centre Kyle Crush who crashed over in the corner for an uncoverted try. 5-0.
The next quarter of an hour was played in the middle of the park with both teams struggling to get the upper hand and the weather forcing a plethora of errors.
But Tree were getting the better of their opponents in the scrum where their front three excelled.
They extended their lead on 20 minutes when winger George Crane scored in the right hand corner after a fine carry from Dan Johnston saw them over the gain line.
Great recycling by the forwards and great handling from the backs saw the ball moved out wide at pace, leaving Crane to squeeze the try in at the corner flag. 10-0.
Bancroft predictably hit back and the visitors were forced to defend for the next 15 minutes but their defences held firm.
They even went in 13-0 to the good at half-time after Adams kicked a superb 30-metre penalty earned during a brief respite from the home side’s offensive push.

After the break it was stalemate as both sides cancelled each other out, and Bancroft coming up against a resolute black and ambers rear-guard.
Mikey Benfield excelled at the breakdown for Tree, winning numerous turn overs and forcing the hosts into conceding penalties.
The deadlock was finally broken on 70 minutes when Crane grabbed his second try of the day.
More great phase play by the forwards followed by slick handling from the backs saw the ball worked ball wide to the winger, whose try was converted by Adams. 20-0.
Bancroft refused to give up and went on the attack straight from the re-start, scoring a well worked try in the corner to reduce the arrears to 20-5.
But with five minutes left Tree added try number four, which was probably their pick of the day.
Bancroft returned the re-start deep into Tree’s half only for winger Lloyd Hardin to run the ball back at them, beating four defenders before finally being stopped inside their 22.
From the resulting ruck the ball was fed to second row Johnston who needed four defenders to stop him five metres short of the line.
The visitors again recycled the ball well and with their opponents’ defence back-tracking prop Max Turner crashed over to score in the left hand corner and seal a 25-5 victory.

Coach Brian Joslin said: “It was a great team effort and I’d like to thank the lads who stepped in to help us put out a decent side at short notice.
“Eighteen-year-old Will Turner deserves a special mention after coming on to make his first team debut and playing 50 minutes in the front row with his older brother Max.
“Unfortunately we picked up a few more injuries during the game but we’ve given ourselves a shout with three home games remaining and it’s all down to us now.”
Tree are back in action this weekend when they travel south to face old adversaries Canvey Island in the Essex Cup.
They return to Essex One action when they entertain Ilford Wanderers at Robbs Wood on Saturday March 19.

BRUFC: T Drew, Crane, K Crush, Adams, Hardin, K Joslin, Martindale, M Turner, C Fairchild, Baker, Johnston, Carslake, C Stephens, Benfield, Spearman. Reps: W Turner, Lane, Abbott