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

EAST LONDON…22 BRAINTREE…19 (London 3 Essex)

BATTLING Braintree were left pondering ‘what might have been’ after suffering a narrow defeat away to promotion rivals East London.
The black and ambers came within a whisker of snatching a smash and grab win on what was an entertaining afternoon in West Ham on Saturday.
Instead the reverse leaves them needing to go on a virtually perfect run from now until the end of the season if they are to stand any chance of moving up to a higher level.
The home side started the brighter and applied lots of early pressure, forcing Tree into full defensive mode from the outset.
The visitors managed to hold them off until the 10th minutes when quick ball from a ruck out wide enabled East London’s fly-half to side-step his way through to a converted try. 7-0.
Tree were struggling to get their hands on the ball, and when they did manage to get possession in a frustrating first half, they either lost it or kicked it away cheaply.
It was a similar story at the start of the second half as East London started just as strongly, adding their second try just five minutes after the turnaround.
A centre field penalty allowed the hosts to kick to touch inside Tree’s 22 with a simple catch and drive move from the resulting line-out yielding five more points. 12-0.
It wasn’t until the 52nd minute when Jamie Clarke’s men finally found their feet off the back of two solid scrums.
A quick pick-up from the base of the second scrum enabled quick ball through the hands to winger Ben Gough who crashed over out wide. 12-5.
East London played their way back into Tree’s half straight from the re-start and won a penalty on the visitors’ 22 which they sensibly kicked for a 15-5 lead.
Play then switched again when the black and ambers launched a slick passing move involving forwards and backs on 68 minutes.
Pressuring inside East London’s 22 veteran second row replacement Paul Aldridge charged towards the five-metre line and drew the last defender before passing to winger Tom Drew.
Drew finished off the move by crashing over the line with Josh Wadforth converting to narrow the deficit to 15-12.
Four minutes later Drew was back in the action again when he sprinted clear after a turnover inside Tree’s 22 to score a superb breakaway try.
Wadforth kicked a tricky conversion from out wide to briefly put the visitors 19-15 in front with just eight minutes of normal time remaining.
Their hosts weren’t about to roll over though and pushed hard into the opposition half to force a line-out on the 22.
Tree were awarded a free-kick when the East London attack broke down and cleared the ball upfield, only for it to be run back at them.
Unusually poor defending then saw three missed tackles by Tree’s defence, enabling their opponents to score a game clinching converted try. 22-19.
BRUFC Chair of Selectors David Gilder said: “It was a really good, tough game played in a good spirit - just the sort of encounter you would expect from 3rd and 4th placed sides.
“Considering how much possession the home side had in the first half I think we did well to keep them to only one try.
“We played our way back into the game after the break, making good use of our backs from a great scrummaging platform.
“So it was disappointing to lose the game by giving away a soft try. We shouldn't have put ourselves in the position of having to defend our line in the last two minutes.
“A bit more thought about how we used our late free-kick would probably enabled us to play clock down.”
Head coach Clarke added: “I thought it was a great game to watch for the supporters and it was a shame after all the hard work we put in that we couldn't hold out at the end.
“Perhaps a bit better game management at the end would have seen us home but we could not have asked any more of the players in terms of commitment and effort.”
Tree now have to lift themselves for their next game a week on Saturday (Feb 9) when they entertain leaders Epping Upper Clapton at Robbs Wood.
Said Clarke: “We have to keep battling in what has become a very competitive league. It seems that any club can win on the day, regardless of their league position.”
BRUFC: K Joslin, T Drew, Abbott, Meade, Gough, J Wadforth, Page, T Colebrook, Hardin, Prince, Perry, M Pickles, J Stanhope, C Marsden, Moss. Reps: Apps, Baker, Aldridge.
Colebrook Offshore Man of the Match: Ben Gough.