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BRAINTREE…43 CLACTON…7 (London 3 Essex)

BRAINTREE posted their second consecutive win in the new London 3 Essex league against a Clacton side who turned up with just 15 players.
The visitors’ lack of playing resources meant they had no bench to call on in a game which was marred by serious injuries to players from both sides.
Consequently play was severely interrupted during the second half of a game which the black and ambers felt they should have won more emphatically.
Tree kicked-off proceedings and immediately put Clacton under pressure, forcing a penalty inside the visitors’ 22 after just six minutes.
A short punt to touch triggered a line-out from which the home side executed their trademark catch and drive move to see debutant flanker Dan Downes cross the line, Kingsley Joslin converting. 7-0.
Another spell of pressure on the quarter hour mark after Tree broke out of their own 22 led to captain John Smillie crashing over for try number two, which Joslin again converted. 14-0.
Tree kept piling on the pressure and scored again on 22 minutes after winning a penalty at the scrum and opting to pack down again.
Possession was secured and after several phases of play second row Wes Apps took control and charged over the line to enable Joslin to complete a hat-trick of conversions. 21-0.
The last score of the half came from turn-over scrum ball in the centre of the pitch, Tree feeding the ball out wide to outside centre Joss Adams who ghosted through the defence to score. 26-0.
After the break it was more of the same as skipper Smillie, back at his preferred position at number eight, picked up from the base of an attacking scrum to score try number five on 50 minutes. 31-0.
There was then a long halt to proceedings after an unfortunate leg break for Clacton’s inside centre.
But as soon as play got underway 14-man Clacton started the livelier and broke through the home defence from a line-out move to score a converted try. 31-7.
Towards the end of a curiously shortened half a three-minute spell of action saw Tree’s James Abbott score two tries.
The first came from turn-over ball at a Clacton scrum where the ball spun out wide to the winger who crashed over in the corner. 36-7.
And moments before the final whistle Abbott collected a kick through on the full before powering over to score without breaking stride and then converting his own try to seal a 43-7 win.

BRUFC Chair of Selectors David Gilder said: “It was a good victory which puts us joint top of the new league with East London, albeit after just two games.
“However it felt a bit hollow what with the visitors turning up with a bare 15 players and then the second half being so disjointed due to injuries.
“Our thoughts go out to the Clacton player who broke his leg and our own Kingsley Joslin who suffered a suspected broken collarbone in the second half.
“But Clacton stuck to their task well considering how short of players they were and were noticeably weaker than when we played them last season.
“Credit to them for turning up and keeping their positive attitude on what was a tough day for them.”
Tree now have a free weekend before returning to London 3 Essex action when they travel to local rivals Maldon on September 30th.
BRUFC: Dann, Abbott, Adams, Hine, Drew, Kingsley Joslin, Keelan Joslin, Smillie, W Turner, Jones, Apps, Mlambo, Pickles, Downes, Moss. Reps: L Turner, Page, Hardin.