BRAINTREE signed off the 2015/16 season in style with an emphatic victory over Canvey Island at Robbs Wood on Saturday.
The black and ambers were simply too strong in all departments for their opponents, posting a win that saw them finish third in the league behind East London and Ilford Wanderers.
And although they might have been left musing over ‘what might have been’ after their storming start to the campaign fizzled out in the last furlong, they have much to be proud of.
Bottom side Canvey deserve much credit for pulling together a game bunch of players for an away fixture which had no bearing on league positions.
Tree set the tone for the day after only three minutes when a penalty kick to touch led to a catch and drive from the lineout and a try for second row Dan Johnston. 5-0.
Ten minutes later veteran Darren Page dummied into space and then skipped blindside to score a second after repeated pressure in the visitors’ 22. 10-0.
The home side’s pressure told again on 16 minutes when a crossfield kick by Joss Adams was gathered by wing James Moore, whose try was converted by James Abbott. 17-0.
Canvey hit back on 19 minutes with a great piece of opportunist play following a quick lineout with Tree players caught completely cold. 17-5.
But three minutes later Abbott added a try to his earlier conversion when he gathered a probing kick through from Page to make it 22-5.
On 26 minutes another crossfield kick by Craig Willis was gathered by Moore who fed the ball to Adams who crashed over, Abbott converting. 29-5.
But Canvey showed they still had some fight left in them with a smart drop-goal just before the break to narrow the deficit to 29-8.

It took Tree just six minutes of the second half to add to their points haul with Willis scoring a try after a spell of picking and driving pressure, Abbott’s conversion making it 36-8.
On 56 minutes Willis added his second try of the afternoon following a great break by Glen Whyatt. 41-8.
Tree were by now rampant and on the hour mark replacement Jack Lee took an inside pass from number eight Nick Spearman and powered through to score under the posts, Abbott converting again. 48-8.
Canvey reduced the arrears with a second try but on 72 minutes Adams grabbed his second following a lineout on Canvey’s five-metre line, Abbott converting again. 55-8.
Brave Canvey had the final say as they emerged from the last play of the game with their second try of the day which was converted to leave a final score of 55-15.

BRUFC Head Coach Brian Joslin said: “I was very pleased with the lads today. It was a fine win against a side who came to the honour the fixture and played with pride.
“Neil Fitzearle and Lee Turner in the forwards both had strong games and James Abbott was the pick of the backs, particularly as he deputised so effectively with the boot.
“Tom Carslake marshalled the side superbly as skipper as he has done all season and deserves a great deal of credit.
“Looking back we can take a lot of positives from this season. We’ve gone from struggling to field a first team last season to now regularly fielding two senior sides and a Colts side.
“Despite choosing to drop two leagues last season I personally think we are playing at the correct level now, but with a little more work and commitment we can push on up.”

BRUFC: Drew, Whyatt, Abbott, Adams, J Moore, Willis, Page, M Moore, Sewell, Perry, Fitzearle, Johnston, Turner, Carslake, Spearman. Reps: Aldridge, T Ashford, Lee.