BRAINTREE RUGBY UNION FOOTBALL CLUB 2017/18 SEASON.
Any copy queries to BRUFC Publicity Officer John Troup on 07860-179347.

MALDON…31 BRAINTREE…37 (London 3 Essex)

BRAINTREE continued their 100 per cent winning start to the new London 3 Essex season with a hard fought 37-31 win away to local rivals Maldon.
The black and ambers arrived on the coast with clear intent and went straight on the offensive, pinning thee hosts inside their own half.
Early pressure led to a clearance kick by Maldon which was caught on the full by second row Tom Carslake who ran it back into opposition territory.
The home side were forced into conceding a defensive penalty which was successfully kicked by Craig Willis to give Tree a 3-0 lead.
That man Willis was at the ready again on five minutes when he potted another penalty awarded for offside to stretch their advantage to 6-0.
The first try of the day came four minutes later when inside centre Joss Adams broke free in attack.
Adams found Josh Hine in support who returned the pass, enabling him to score a try which Willis converted. 13-0.
But Maldon weren’t going to lie down that easily and reduced the deficit on 14 minutes with a penalty from the 22. 13-3.
On 20 minutes Tree scored again when winger Tom Drew ran a clearance kick back over half the length of the pitch to score in the corner.
The imperious Willis then added the extra points with a superb long range conversion to extend Tre’s lead to 20-3.
Unfortunately it was the last action Drew saw as he aggravated a shoulder injury in scoring and had to leave the pitch to be replaced by Billy Clark.
Maldon then started to get a toe-hold in the game and on 29 minutes, after a spell of sustained pressure, they forced Tree to concede a penalty try, which was converted to narrow the gap to 20-10.
But the black and amber boys turned the screw again when another break by Adams enabled blind side flanker Willis to score out wide, then convert his own try with another superb kick to give his side a 27-10 interval lead.
After the turnaround Maldon played themselves right back into the match from the get go with some strong forward play.
On 45 minutes a penalty kick to touch allowed the home side to set up a catch and drive move which led to a converted try. 27-17.

Three minutes later Tree hit back after a fast defensive push up by their backs saw outside centre James Abbott intercept and race through to score.
Willis converted to stretch the visitors’ lead to 34-17 before adding a penalty on 55 minutes. 37-17.
But any thoughts Tree had about seeing out the rest of the game in comfort evaporated on 59 minutes.
A line-out win by the home side triggered good phases of play across pitch which led to a converted try. 37-24.
Willis then narrowly missed another penalty 10 minutes from time when he saw the ball brush off a post.
And there were nerves aplenty when Maldon grabbed another converted try with two minutes to go to come within six points of their opponents. 37-31.
BRUFC Chair of Selectors David Gilder said: “It was yet another great game against Maldon, carrying on the pattern of the last couple of years.
“There was a lot of strong forward play from the home side which we expected.
“But I thought our back row of Craig Willis, Dylan Moss and John Smillie, ably supported by Mikey Benfield, were superb.
“Craig had a superb match all round. Our line speed in defence was great led by Josh Hine at fly-half with him and Joss Adams class in attack.
“Even thought it was a day when Maldon kept closing the points gap I never really felt we would do anything other than win.”
Joint Coach Brian Joslin added: “It was a tough game like it always is agaiast Madlon so to come away with 31-37 victory was very pleasing.
“I was very proud of all 18 players. They all put a shift in and withstood a late Maldon fight back in the last ten minutes.
“We’ve had a great start to the season so far but we’ve just got to make sure we keep going and don’t take our foot off the gas.”
Tree return to Robbs Wood this weekend when they entertain Canvey Island in another London 3 Essex encounter.
BRUFC: Dann, K Joslin, Abbott, Adams, Drew, Hine, Page, Colebrook, W Turner, Hardin, Carslake, Pickles, Willis, Moss, Smillie. Reps: Benfield, Clark, Lee.