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

BRAINTREE…57 BARKING…5 (London 3 Essex)

BRAINTREE swept aside once mighty Barking with a nine-try blitz at Robbs Wood, but second-placed East London’s victory over leaders Epping Upper Clapton all but put paid to their slim chances of promotion.
The visitors kicked off in dry calm conditions but Tree looked assured in the early stages, both in possession and defence.
Barking clearly came to do business, but their early carries were driven back from the gain line by resolute tackling.
It took the black and ambers just five minutes to open their account, strong running through the middle of the park by hooker Lloyd Hardin opening the visitors up.
Hardin’s pass was finished by winger and captain, James Abbott, who scored out wide to put his side 5-0 to the good.
Five minutes later full-back Glen Whyatt got in on the act from a line-out just inside the Barking half.
Recycled phases saw the ball eventually spun out through the hands, Whyatt running a straight line by through the opposition defence to score unhindered, and Josh Wadforth added the conversion. 12-0.
Try number three came on 25 minutes from a scrum outside of Barking’s 22. Tree won possession and swung the ball one way and then the other.
Winger Ben Gough then made the decisive mover, cutting back infield from his wing before recycling the ball to enable number eight Cameron Kerr to score, Wadforth’s kick adding the extra points. 19-0.
Three minutes before the interval inside centre Joe Young added his name to the burgeoning scoresheet.
A series of penalty scrums for Tree enabled them to build pressure around Barking’s 22, putting the visitors on the back foot before simple hands led to the try. Once again, that man Wadforth did the honours with his boot. 26-0.
Barking had the final play of half and were unlucky not to finish with a try as Tree’s overstretched defence had to fend off a series of pick and drive moves.
After the interval it was more of the same as Jamie Clarke’s men continued to put the visitors to the sword.
On 48 minutes Young added his second, picking up a loose ball in the opposition 22 before skipping through to score, Wadforth again converting. 33-0.
Seven minutes later a virtual carbon copy put Young in to complete an impressive hat-trick as he ran in to score almost unhindered. Wadforth converting again. 40-0.
On 58 minutes Tree added another well-constructed try straight from the re-start.
Two strong carries and some quick ball enabled young flanker Will Humphreys to power through some slack defensive tackles to score try number seven. 45-0.
Tree were relentless by now, and took just two minutes to stretch their lead with a try straight off the training park.
With the ball in hand in Wadforth had a quick look up before arrowing a cross-field kick straight into the hands of Tom Drew.
The winger still had work to do but managed to break two tackles to score try number eight out wide. 50-0.
Barking never gave up and were justly rewarded with a try of their own on 65 minutes following a series of pick and drive moves by their forwards. 50-5.
But it was Tree who had the last word courtesy of full-back Whyatt, whose pace from quick tap penalty was too much for the opposition to live with, Wadforth converting for 57-5.
BRUFC Chair of Selectors David Gilder said: “It was a really good team performance to continue our strong run-in to the end of the season.
“Although we were hoping East London might lose to the leaders the victory keeps us in third place, pressuring them as much as we can.
“Barking had obviously had to travel with a depleted squad and were under pressure for much of the game, but stuck to the task well and competed to the very end.
“From early it was obvious they hoped to make use of their big forwards, but they were thwarted from the off with successive carries being driven back from the gain line.
“Our set plays worked well for us with dominance in the scrums against a much bigger pack and good line-out ball.
“This is a very young side that is improving and strengthening week on week. We now want to push hard in the last two games to consolidate at least a third place finish.”
Head Coach Jamie Clarke added: “It was a clinical team performance and we played some really entertaining rugby.
“Our youngsters continue to improve with every game and that is very encouraging for the future of the club.
“We are having a very strong finish to the season and we need to take that winning form into our last two games to ensure we finish above our local rivals Chelmsford.”
East London’s win over the leaders kept them six points ahead of third-placed Tree, and unless they slip up in next weekend’s clash with King’s Cross Steelers, Tree’s visit to Maldon on Saturday looks all but a formality.
Colebrook Offshore Man of the Match: Joe Young.
BRUFC: Whyatt, Abbott, T Drew, J Young, Meade, J Wadforth, Keelan Joslin, T Colebrook, Hardin, Prince, T Carslake, W Turner, J Stanhope, Humphreys, C Kerr. Reps: Page, Gough, Mlambo.