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

CANVEY ISLAND…32 BRAINTREE…0 (London 3 Essex)

BRAINTREE remain third in London 3 Essex despite suffering a convincing defeat against a determined Canvey Island side.
The hosts kicked off on a rainy, windy afternoon which saw the game restricted to the centre of the park for the first five minutes as both sides grappled for supremacy.
And tellingly it was the home team who made the breakthrough on six minutes with a probing chip over the Tree defence.
It looked as though the visitors would clear the danger comfortably but an unfortunate slip enabled Canvey to grab possession and score a simple converted try. 7-0.
The home side then piled on the pressure from then on, extending their lead to 10-0 with a 15th minute penalty.
Tree were forced into full defensive mode against a marauding set of forwards and conceded again shortly after when a penalty to touch set up a lineout which led to another forwards try out wide. 15-0.
Towards the end of the half the black and ambers managed to hang on to the ball for some phases and managed to pressure their opponents’ 22, but the Canvey defence held fast and their attacks dwindled.
Inevitably the home side regained possession and worked the ball up field before scoring a push-over try which was converted for a 22-0 interval lead.
Any hopes of Tree fighting their way back into the game was quashed after only three minutes of the second half with another home try. 27-0.
And hard as they worked in defence the black and ambers could not stop another try on 55 minutes as Canvey overpowered them in the centre of the park. 32-0.
To their credit Tree were all hands to the pump for the final 25 minutes as they battled the opposition, the wind, the rain and cloying mud to prevent their hosts from inflicting any further damage.
BRUFC Chair of Selectors David Gilder said: “We always expected this to be a really tough away fixture against probably the biggest pack in the league.
“Having to make nine changes to the squad from the previous game compounded our difficulties and although everyone gave their all in defence it was too big a hill to climb on the day.
“We are a team built for firm pitches, dry weather and keeping the ball in hand, not forward slogs in wet conditions.”
Head Coach Brian Joslin said: “Canvey were worthy winners and they dominated the game from start to finish. They were very disciplined in defence & clinical in attack.
“We fielded a much changed side from our last game including six teenagers from the academy system and they all gave a good account of themselves.
“But we never got to grips with the pace of the game or the conditions and although the boys defended doggedly from start to finish Canvey adapted so much better than we did.
“Laurence Hemmes had a great debut in the front row as did Josh Wadforth at fly-half, both putting in decent performances.”
It doesn’t get any easier for Tree next weekend as they play host to second-placed Millwall at Robbs Wood.
• It wasn’t all doom and gloom for Tree on Saturday – the second string produced a great performance to beat Chingford IIs 13-10.
BRUFC: Dann, Abbott, Young, Adams, Drew, J Wadforth, K Joslin, Hemmes, Jones, Perry, W Turner, J Carslake, C Kerr, Benfield, Moss. Reps: Page, Richards, Aldridge.