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BRAINTREE…25 CAMPION…12 (London 3 Essex)

BRAINTREE returned to winning ways at Robbswood as a solid performance saw them end a run of three successive defeats.
But the black and ambers still have it all to do if they are to reel in the 14-point gap between themselves and current London 3 Essex leaders Epping Upper Clapton.
However, there’s still plenty of the 18/19 season remaining, and if Tree can apply themselves for the rest of the campaign like they did on Saturday then they’re more than capable of closing the gap.
The home park dominated from the start, sparking a series of pick and drive moves which opened up space for fit again James Abbott to score in the right hand corner after five minutes. 5-0.
Campion were still trying to gather themselves when Tree hit them again, Dominic Dann kicking through after a mistake by the visitors’ full-back to enable Tom Drew to score try number two. 10-0.
After 20 minutes Campion’s 15 was in the thick of it again as he shoulder charged Abbott to concede the first in a string of penalties.
The Brentwood-based side defended valiantly until Tree finally managed to get the ball out left to flying winger Drew, who crashed over in the corner for his second try of the game. 15-0.
Campion eventually got into gear and started to look like the side that had won its last five games, and a good passage of play saw them finally on the scoreboard. 15-5.
Tree suddenly found themselves on the back foot and the rejuvenated visitors produced some slick passing and a powerful drive saw them score a converted try on the half-hour mark. 15-12.

A nail biting final 10 minutes of the first half saw some excellent defending by the hosts to retain their slender lead, with Charlie Marsden and new signing Lee Thomson particularly impressive.

After the break it was a different story as the black and ambers regained the initiative, good use of the pack enabling them to retain the ball for long periods.

They were quick to go into offensive mode when the chance came though, and quick ball saw Joe Young power through the Campion defence before slipping Abbott in for his second try. 20-12.

Tree started to twist the knife and repeated drives saw them creep closer and closer to the try line before Matt Pickles drove over for a well-deserved fifth try on the hour. 25-12.

Campion rallied for the last 20 minutes of the game but the hosts held firm and quashed any thoughts of a comeback.

BRUFC Head Coach Jamie Clarke said: “It was a really solid performance after what has been a bit of a sticky patch for us these last few weeks, mainly because of injuries.
“Tactically the boys played the perfect game to beat what is one of the stronger teams in this league.

“I thought Charlie Marsden at 7 was exceptional and Dominic Dann was also superb after stepping in at 10.

“But our Colebrook Offshore Man of the Match was debutant Lee Thomson, who made a huge impact playing at 6.”

Tree are without a game next weekend but return to London 3 Essex action on December 1st when they travel to east London to face seventh-placed Barking.

BRUFC: Whyatt, T Drew, Abbott, J Young, Meade, Dann, Keelan Joslin, Colebrook, Baker, Prince, Perry, T Carslake, Thomson, C Marsden, M Pickles. Reps: Hardin, Humphrey, Swallow.