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

CANVEY ISLAND…10 BRAINTREE…8 (London 3 Essex)

CARELESS hands cost Braintree the game as their recent good run of form ended at a blustery Canvey Island on Saturday.
Playing conditions are nearly always challenging down on the Thames Estuary, but head coach Jamie Clarke felt the black and ambers were the architects of their own downfall.
The home side kicked off with the bitterly cold breeze at their backs and went straight on the front foot, taking the game to Tree with an early onslaught.
But the early portents were good for the visitors as they flexed their defensive muscles and dug deep to keep their opponents at bay.
The game was only six minutes old when it became a centre of the park arm wrestle with neither pack able to impose themselves.
Canvey had the edge in the line-out but Tree had the upper hand defensively and the first half ended with neither side managing to post points on the board.
Both sides were guilty of giving away too many penalties and unfortunately for Tree their hosts’ superiority in the line-out meant they were able to capitalise with kicks to touch.
The first score of the game came on 45 minutes when quick possession from a scrum penalty allowed Canvey to work phases of play and score out wide. 5-0.
Tree still looked capable when they kept the ball in hand rather than kicking it away, and on 65 minutes they gained a penalty just inside their opponents’ half.
Sweetly struck by Josh Wadforth it came back off the post, but the visitors hit back from the drop-out restart.
Replacement front row Lloyd Hardin lived up to the tag of impact sub by running the ball straight back at Canvey to score an unconverted try in the corner. 5-5.
Tree briefly took the lead on 74 minutes when Wadforth successfully potted a second penalty attempt from closer in. 5-8.
But sadly for the black and ambers they immediately gave away an obvious and silly penalty for offside.
The kick was cleared to touch giving Canvey the perfect opportunity to play to their strengths via a catch and drive move from a line-out.
Tree were penalised again for dropping the maul, losing a player to the sinbin in the process, and then conceded a second match winning try in the last play of the game. 10-8.
A rueful BRUFC Chair of Selectors David Gilder said: “It certainly wasn’t a game for the rugby purist.
“We struggled to win enough possession and when we did have the ball we kicked it away too much.
“We were a bit naive tactically and probably got what we deserved. Hopefully we can perform better in our next game.”
Head Coach Jamie Clarke said: “We never really got going and were careless in possession.
“The first game after the break is never easy and we also had to make a few changes on the morning of the match which didn't help.
“But to be honest we didn't perform well and probably got what we deserved. We need to re-group quickly and move on to the next game this Saturday and a better performance.”
Tree, who drop a place to fifth in London 3 Essex, will look to get back to winning ways on Saturday when Old Cooperians are the visitors to Robbs Wood.
BRUFC: Whyatt, Meade, Abbott, J Wadforth, T Drew, Dann, K Joslin, T Colebrook, Baker, Prince, T Carslake, Perry, J Stanhope, C Marsden, Richards. Reps: Hardin, Page, Humphreys.