BRAINTREE RUGBY UNION FOOTBALL CLUB 2016/17 SEASON.
Any copy queries to BRUFC Publicity Officer John Troup on 07860-179347.

BRAINTREE...31 MALDON...20 (Canterbury Jack Essex 1B)

BRAINTREE returned to winning ways and kept their 100 per cent league record intact with a 31-20 victory over Maldon on Saturday.
The black and ambers made hard work of their victory but will console themselves with the knowledge that they still have enough in the tank to win even they’re not playing well.
Handling errors were predictably commonplace on a miserably wet afternoon when the ball seemed reluctant to stick in the hands.
Tree were first to put points on the board after just five minutes when the reliable boot of Craig Willis kicked them 3-0 in front from a penalty awarded for offside.
Seven minutes later a long clearing kick to touch from the home side followed by a turnover at the line-out triggered a forwards move which ended with a try for prop Jamie Prince. 8-0.
But just two minutes later Tree committed the first of a worrying litany of mistakes when they were caught in possession on their own five-metre line.
Maldon turned the ball over and managed to crash over to reduce the arrears with an unconverted score.8-5.
Pressure from the re-start won Tree a penalty and once again Willis showed his aim was good and true as he notched his kick to put his side 11-5 in front.
A successful 23rd minute penalty from the visitors was chalked out by a third on-target effort from Willis. 14-8.
But Tree then grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck when outside centre James Abbott scored try number two following a great break from deep by full back Dominic Dann.
Willis potted the conversion to extend the home side’s lead to 21-8 and then sent his fourth penalty attempt of the game sailing over from deep with the last kick of the half. 24-8.
Any thoughts the Robbs Wood faithful had of sitting back for a relaxing second half were swiftly dashed though as Maldon came out all guns blazing after the interval.
After 15 minutes of scrappy rugby with mistakes from both sides Maldon stole the ball at a line-out and ran through midfield to score a converted try under the posts. 24-15.
Another try followed, this time unconverted, to bring the visitors to within four points of Tree, but they rallied late on to make sure of victory.
Prince tidied up loose ball at the back of a Maldon line-out and after some good carries by the forwards skipper John Smillie crossed to score, with Willis converting.
BRUFC Chair of Selectors David Gilder said: “Although we scrummaged well and pushed them off almost all of their scrum ball it was our worst performance of the season.
“It seemed a case of after the Lord Mayor’s parade following the narrow defeat in the RFU Vase and the end of our Twickenham dream last week
“The game seemed to mirror the dull and dour weather and we have Craig Willis to thank for a superb performance with the boot. However, a win is a win.”
BRUFC Joint Coach Brian Joslin added: “It was a tough game and we made very hard work of the win. There were lots of unforced errors which kept Maldon in contention.
“Craig had a barnstormer of a game but Dominic Dann in the backs and Jamie Prince in the forwards ran him close for man of the match.”
Tree will be looking for a big improvement when they make the short trip to bottom side Witham this weekend for what is always a keenly fought derby clash.
• Braintree’s academy side exited the National Colts Cup on Sunday when they were beaten 43-7 by a very strong Guildford Colts.
BRUFC: Dann, Rollit-Mason, Abbott, Willis, Drew, Adams, Martindale, Perry, Turner, Prince, Apps, M Turner, Carslake, Benfield, Smillie. Reps: Halford, Moss, Chapman.