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

BRAINTREE…32 MALDON…22 (London 3 Essex)

BRAINTREE began 2018 in winning fashion with a hard fought victory over their local rivals Maldon, but they were made to fight all the way for the points.
The game started in perfect fashion for the black and ambers as Maldon fluffed the line-out which resulted from the home side’s kick-off and ceded possession to their hosts’ forwards.
Quick recycling and even quicker hands saw the ball passed out wide to full-back Dominic Dann who powered over to score a try which was converted by fly-half Dan Olley. 7-0.
Maldon’s re-start kick was caught clean by flanker Mikey Benfield who carried it straight back into the opposition half to set up another attack.
More swift recycling and quick hands in the backs saw the ball end up with outside centre Joe Young who scored try number two, with Olley converting to put Tree 14-0 up after only four minutes.
The visitors finally caught their breath and dominated play for the next 16 minutes, relying on the strength of their scrum, pick and drive game.
Tree suddenly found themselves manning the pumps all over the field and despite their best efforts in the tackle they concede three tries on nine, 15 and 20 minutes and a conversion. 14-17.
But they wrestled control back on 24 minutes after capitalising again on a loose Maldon line-out, allowing blindside flanker Matt Pickles to boost his team with a big carry up field.
Pickles slipped the ball to Olley moments before he was tackled and the stand-off went on to feed the ball to Keelan Joslin who scored an unconverted try in the corner. 19-17.
And they further lifted the lid on the pressure cooker just before half-time with a fine individual try by Olley, who raced away to score from inside his own 22 after his team-mates won turn-over ball. 24-17.
The second half was a bit of a dour affair with Maldon looking to use their pack to pick and drive in a bid to replicate their earlier purple patch and Tree finding themselves starved of possession.
They eventually got parity in the scrum but had to put in a real shift defensively under a lot of Maldon pressure.
That pressure told on 67 minutes with another try for the visitors which brought them to within two points of their opponents. 24-22.
However, Tree came back strong and after a missed penalty attempt at goal skipper John Smillie caught the 22 drop out kick and charged through the Maldon defence to within 10 meters of the Maldon Line. Dan Johnson then re-gathered ball and charged away to score on 73 minutes. 29-22.
And they sealed victory by piling on more pressure as the clock ticked down, enabling Keelan Joslin to slot a penalty which killed off the visitors’ hopes of snatching something from the game. 32-22.
BRUFC chair of selectors David Gilder said: “Over the past few seasons we have come to expect a real battle with this Maldon side and our games really have the feel of a proper local derby.
“They tend to be very strong up front but a bit lacking out wide so we know that we can use good clean ball to punish them when given space.
“This was a good win for us with the Christmas break hopefully now out of the system and we find ourselves still third in the league in a perfect position to push for second over the next couple of games.”
Head coach Brian Joslin said: “This was another really tough game against Maldon season and I was really pleased with the win.
“Maldon are a very good side with a very strong set of forwards who pushed us hard all the way through this fixture.
“I was pleased with whole squad’s efforts today and it was great to see Dan Johnston back playing In the forwards after injury.
“Wes Apps & Matt Pickles both had strong games in the forwards and in the backs Joss Adams, Keelan Joslin & Dan Olley were all outstanding.”
Tree are without a game this weekend but return to action on January 27 when they travel to Canvey Island.
• Tree’s second string completed a winning weekend for the Beckers Green Road outfit as they secured a 19-5 victory at home to Brentwood IIIs.
BRUFC: Dann, Drew, Young, Adams, Meade, Olley, Keelan Joslin, Colebrook, W Turner, Hardin, Apps, T Carslake, Pickles, Benfield, Smillie. Reps: Page, C Kerr, Johnston.