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

BRAINTREE…13 MILLWALL…14 (London 3 Essex)

BRAINTREE suffered a second consecutive defeat in a closely fought contest at Robbs Wood on Saturday, but their much improved performance gave the black and amber faithful cause for optimism.
After being put to the sword convincingly by Canvey Island’s forward-oriented approach seven days earlier coach Brian Joslin must have been chewing his fingernails for the visit of second placed Millwall.
But his pack produced their best performance of the season to date, only to have victory snatched from their grasp with the last kick of the game in highly controversial circumstances.
Tree kicked off but found themselves put under early pressure by the men from the Docklands and needing to scrummage their way out of trouble during the early exchanges.
Despite their tenacity there was nothing they could do to stop Millwall taking a sixth minute lead, a clever chip over the top being re-gathered by the visitors’ left wing before he scored in the corner. 0-5.
The game then entered a long period during which Tree dominated the scrum without managing to convert their superior possession into points, poor handling blighting several try-scoring opportunities.
They finally got on the scoreboard on the half-hour when fly-half Josh Wadforth became the latest member of his family dynasty to notch points for the Beckers Green Road club. 3-5.
More constant pressure by the forwards led to another penalty chance shortly before the break. which the young Wadforth duly potted to give his side a narrow 6-5 interval lead.
Millwall made the best of their chances after the turnaround, notching two successful penalties to give them an 11-6 advantage by the hour mark.
Tree weren’t about to lie down though and continued to build pressure forcing the visitors to concede penalties at every scrum.
Finally, after having six straight penalties awarded against them, Millwall’s loose-head prop was eventually yellow-carded for standing up every time the ball was fed in to the scrum.
With no front row replacement the referee was forced to indicate uncontested scrums which took all of the momentum out of the game.
Tree failed to capitalise on their numerical advantage but picked up where they left off when Millwall’s errant prop emerged from the sin bin and they were able to assert scrum superiority again.
Again penalty after penalty was conceded as the forwards packed down, leading to the ref awarding a penalty try and conversion to the home side five with just five minutes left on the clock. 13-11.
All the black and ambers had to do was close the game out but Millwall came back very strongly and really tested their hosts’ defensive resolve.
They held out doggedly until the last minute and even earned themselves a penalty when the referee punished Millwall for holding on deep in Tree’s half.
Joslin’s men enthusiastically hailed what they thought was a game well won, only for the man in the middle to reverse the penalty for what he later confirmed was “over-exuberant celebration”.
Millwall looked as baffled by the decision as their hosts but their fly-half didn’t pass up the opportunity to take the kick in front of the posts on the 22 to secure an improbable 14-13 win.
BRUFC chair of selectors David Gilder, although clearly gutted to lose the game in such fashion, said: “After the annihilation of our forwards last week it was incredible to see how they dominated Millwall.
“Previously when we’ve been unable to compete in the forwards we have either lost or relied on our backs to rescue us.
“This time we had forward dominance but on the day our backs couldn’t make good enough use of the possession.
“It was frustrating that the scrums had to go uncontested. It changed the path of the game, and to then see victory handed to Millwall on a plate at the end was hugely disappointing.”
Coach Joslin, similarly encouraged and gutted, added: “It was a much improved performance by the lads this week.
“I’m gutted at the way we lost, with the last kick of the game. It was a very harsh penalty decision and even the Millwall lads were embarrassed to win it that way.
“It was our forwards’ best performance of the season. They totally dominated the set piece and the front five in particular were awesome.
“The ref had a massive impact on the game in a way which wasn’t in our favour but had we been more clinical earlier in the game his unfavourable decisions would have been taken out of the equation.”
Tree are without a game this weekend but return to London 3 Essex action on Saturday 17th February when Upminster are the visitors to Robbs Wood.
BRUFC: Dann, T Drew, Young, K Joslin, Eveleigh, J Wadforth, Page, Hemes, Hardin, Perry, Apps, Johnston, T Carslake, Benfield, Moss. Reps: Colebrook, Williams, Richards.