BRAINTREE RUGBY UNION FOOTBALL CLUB 2018/19 SEASON.
Any copy queries to BRUFC Publicity Officer John Troup on 07860-179347.

BRAINTREE…21 CANVEY ISLAND…15 (London 3 Essex)

Battling Braintree responded to the disappointment of a narrow defeat at the hands of derby rivals Chelmsford with a hard fought victory at Robbswood on Saturday.
The black and ambers started tentatively in front of decent crowd in what was their first home league game of the season.
The early exchanges were keenly contested as two well-matched sides locked horns, but it was the hosts who drew first blood on 12 minutes.
Canvey thought they’d taken the pressure off themselves by stealing a line-out inside their own 22, but Tree pinched it back in contact.
Some slick handling saw the ball end up in the hands of blind side flanker Sam Thompson who forced his way over the line and grounded the ball for his first score for the club.
Scrum-half Keelan Joslin then stepped up to send the conversion through the posts and give his side a 7-0 lead.
Tree consolidated their lead seven minutes later when number eight John Smillie executed one of his trademark pick-ups from the back of a scrum before careering over. 12-0.
That seemed to spur the visitors into action and their big ball carriers started to get a foothold in the game, forcing Tree to show their defensive mettle.
Canvey’s rolling maul tactics eventually paid off on 28 minutes following a penalty kicked to touch when they executed a text book catch and drive move from the resulting line-out. 12-5.
They finished the half strongly, turning over ball at a Tree line-out via their huge second row jumpers to trigger an unstoppable drive that yielded another unconverted try. 12-10 HT.
Plain talking in the dressing room at half-time saw the black and ambers emerge purposefully for the second half with the assistance of fresh legs from the bench.
Pushing hard into Canvey’s half they earned a penalty in a central position, giving debutant fly-half Robert Oakley a chance to show his prowess from the kicking tee.
A superb effort nosed Tree 15-10 to the good, good game management in a game in which the hosts needed to capitalise on any opportunity that arose in a very tight game.
Jamie Clarke’s men then had to defend like demons in the face of strong pressure from the visitors, who channelled everything through their huge pack.
But Canvey continued to concede penalties in dangerous areas and Oakley was on hand to punish them with two more successful kicks in the 50th and 74th minutes. 21-10.
The men from the Thames finished with a flourish, scoring a third unconverted try out wide in the last play of the game, but it proved too little, too late.
BRUFC Chair of Selectors David Gilder said: “Having suffered a rather humiliating defeat away to Canvey late last season this really was a must win game for our pride.
“It wasn’t a pretty win but we will take it gladly all the same. The fact we came out on top was testament to our defensive resilience against a huge side who could have blown us away had we not been so committed.
“Young Robert Oakley was calm as a cucumber at stand-off on his debut and excellent with his long-range place kicking.
“To earn parity in the scrums was a big achievement against a much bigger side and proved pivotal in the win.
Delighted first team coach Clarke added: “We really had to dig deep today against a side with a very good set of forwards, but we stuck to the task and our defence was great.
“Jamie Prince at tight head prop had a storming game and Robert Oakley had a really solid and assured game at fly-half considering he was making his debut.
“Canvey made it really difficult for us in conditions that probably suited them, so even though we were not at our best we still deserved the win.”
Tree, who sit third in the London 3 Essex table, travel to Upminster this weekend to face Old Cooperians in another league encounter.
Colebrook Offshire man of the match: Jamie Prince.
BRUFC: Dann, T Drew, Adams, J Young, Rollit-Mason, Oakley, Keelan Joslin, Colebrook, Hardin, Prince, Mlambo, Fouche, Thompson, J Stanhope, Smillie. Reps: M Pickles, Moss, Pailegutu.