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

MALDON...17 BRAINTREE...32 (Canterbury Jack Essex 1B)
MARAUDING Braintree went five points clear at the top of the table as they got the better of fellow promotion rivals Maldon in a pulsating Essex derby.
Tree were determined to put on a decent performance against Saturday’s opponents and showed a massive improvement from last season when they lost at home to them and deserved to lose away.
Rather uncharacteristically they came out of the blocks quickly, charging after their own kick-off to win an early penalty which Craig Willis despatched to give them an early 3-0 lead.
The game then became a gruelling arm-wrestle and with several jumping personnel missing from their line-up the visitors were unable to exercise their customary dominance at the line-out.
But on 25 minutes Tree started to exercise their upper hand in the scrum and went on the attack from a pack down 10 metres inside their own half.
Number eight John Smillie picked up from the base and broke forward before shipping a pass to Fergus Rollit-Mason.
The pacey wing then slipped the ball back inside to fly-half Josh Hine arriving in support at speed and his clinically finished try was converted by Willis to give Tree a 10-0 lead.
Maldon got as far as their opponents’ 22 from the re-start before Tree cleared their lines with a kick towards the hosts’ left winger.
Fortunately for the men in black and amber it kicked up on impact and bounced conveniently into the arms of chasing winger James Moore who collected it beautifully and charged away to score.
On this occasion Willis’ kick from out wide didn’t quite have the accuracy but Tree were still looking comfortable at 15-0.
Just a few minutes later outside centre James Abbott got in on the act, running in a try after yet another strong scrum which Willis converted to put his side 22-0 to the good.
Maldon were clearly rattled but finished the half strongly, making use of their line-out dominance to gain good possession on Tree’s five-metre line.
Some good phases of possession eventually led to the referee awarding a penalty try which was converted to reduce the arrears to 7-22 after penalising the visitors for offside infringements.
It was no surprise to see Maldon come out just as strongly after the break and a spell of sustained pressure eventually led to a second unconverted try. 12-22.
Any concerns Tree would start to wobble were allayed when they worked their way into Maldon’s 22 straight from the re-start and were subsequently awarded with a penalty.
Willis sensibly opted to go for the posts and his trusty boot steadied the ship as his fine-kick put the visitors 25-12 ahead.
Tree missed another penalty 10 minutes later but remained on the attack and scored the try of the game on the hour mark.
Another strong scrum led to Smillie picking up at the base and breaking to the right where the ball was re-cycled from the ruck and passed out to Hine at stand-off.
He kept Maldon’s defence guessing before finally feeding a deft pass to Abbott who ran through to score his second try of the game under the posts, Willis converting for a 32-12 lead.
Still the hosts refused to give up and even though the game was effectively lost they had the last hurrah after forcing their way over the line in the closing minutes following pressure on Tree’s 22.
After the game BRUFC Joint Coach Brian Joslin said: “We deserved the win and what made it all the more satisfying was that we were missing several key players.
“We had to make five changes in the pack and three in the backs from the Canvey game and to come to Maldon and win shows we've got depth in the club at the moment.”
BRUFC Chairman of Selectors David Gilder added: “We struggled in the line-out but that was only to be expected with all the enforced personnel changes, but everything else about our play was superb.
“The forwards produced an excellent scrummaging performance which allowed us to control the possession.
“Maldon like to put big ball carriers through the 10 and 12 channels but the big hits from Josh Hine and Craig Willis had a demoralising effect on that tactic.
“Josh was classy throughout the game and Craig’s kicking was excellent. Dominic Dann also had a great game at full-back.”
Tree are in cup action this weekend when they travel to Buckhurst Hill to face Bancroft in the second round of the Essex President’s Shield.
BRUFC: Dann, J Moore, Abbott, Willis, Rollit-Mason, Hine, Martindale, Halford, Jones, Prince, Apps, Johnston, L Turner, W Turner, Smillie. Reps: Baker, Moss, Page.
• The black and ambers’ second string gave a good account of themselves and were level at 7-7 in their fixture away to a strong Eton Manor IIs, but were eventually beaten 38-7.