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

BARKING…19 BRAINTREE…52 (London 3 Essex)

RAMPANT Braintree ensured they stayed within touching distance of the London 3 Essex leaders with an emphatic victory over once mighty Barking on Saturday.
Tree’s hosts once provided the rugby springboard for England legend Jason Leonard, who made his first team debut against the black and ambers as a teenager.
But nowadays Barking are far from the rugby force they once were, and were just as hospitable on the pitch as they were off it.
Tree started brightly after receiving the kick off and went on the attack straight from the first whistle.
On six minutes and with play in Barking’s 22, centre and captain for the day James Abbott chipped over the defence for second row Tom Carslake to score, Josh Wadforth converting. 7-0.
Four minutes later Tree called a six-man line-out on Barking’s 22, winning clean ball and feeding the play to fly-half Dominic Dann.
Dann slipped as inside pass to flanker Charlie Marsden standing in midfield who powered through to score under the posts, enabling Wadforth to do the honours with the boot. 14-0.
The home side then managed to get some dominance at scrum time and started to carry play into Tree’s 22, drawing the visitors defence out wide before scoring unconverted in the corner. 14-5.
But on 21 minutes Tree hit back again via a try from Wadforth following a strong run from Marsden and some fine picking and driving from recycled ball. Missed conversion. 19-5.
On 23 minutes inside centre Joe Young got in on the try scoring act following a towering up and under from Dann which led to a mix up in defence.
Young gathered the loose ball before skipping through to score for a try which was again converted by Wadforth. 26-5.
Five minutes later Abbott added to Barking’s woes following a defensive fumble as he capitalised on a slick passing move to score, with Wadforth again accurate with the boot. 33-5.
On 35 minutes winger Tom Drew added try number six after Barking ceded possession from an attacking line-out in Tree’s 22 with a loose throw.
Marsden scooped up possession and broke out of defence before starting a backs move that was rounded off courtesy of a galloping run, Wadforth’s conversion making it 40-5.
Barking finished the half on the attack but another loose pass was intercepted by Wadforth who cantered free to score. 45-5.
After the break the home side rang the changes and came out stronger with a much tighter midfield.
Two minutes into the second half side and playing to their strengths by kicking for touch, winning their line-outs and utilising their catch and drive game they scored a converted try. 45-12.
Tree had to dig in and defend resolutely and their stoicism paid off on 54 minutes when scrum half Keelan Joslin, now on the wing, was too quick for Barking’s defence and scored under the posts.
Wadforth converted to make it 52-12 but four minutes from time a fine closing try and conversion by the home side proved to be the final points of an entertaining game. 52-19.
BRUFC coach Jamie Clarke said: “It was a really great team display. Our defence was outstanding and we got the balance right in terms of attacking with our forwards and releasing our backs.
“It’s always nice to win away and we now have two games at home before Christmas where we can hopefully carry our form into the New Year and finish with a run of wins.”
BRUFC chair of selectors David Gilder added: “We really needed a win to revitalise us for the run in to Christmas with two home games coming up.
“To get such a good win away was superb. Scoring at over a point a minute for the first half was more than we could have hoped for.
“It was great to see Josh Wadforth back in black and amber after a period working away and he produced a superb performance.
“Flanker Charlie Marsden was a potent force with ball in hand and terrorised the Barking defence, tackling all over the park and rightly earning the Colebrook Offshore Man of the Match award.
Tree are back in London 3 Essex action this weekend when they entertaing struggling Maldon at Robbs Wood.
BRUFC: Whyatt, J Wadforth, Abbott, J Young, T Drew, Dann, Keelan Joslin, T Colebrook, Hardin, Prince, T Carslake, Thomson, J Stanhope, C Marsden, Mlambo. Reps: B Colebrook, Richards, Page.