BRAINTREE RUGBY UNION FOOTBALL CLUB 2019/20 SEASON.
Any copy queries to BRUFC Publicity Officer John Troup on 07860-179347.

BRAINTREE…15 UPMINSTER…20 (London 3 Essex)

Braintree lost ground to London 3 Essex leaders Upminster in a pulsating top of the table clash at Robbs Wood.

The black and ambers drop to fifth after being left to rue their decision to chase tries rather than keep the scoreboard ticking over with kickable penalties.

It was the visitors who opened the scoring on 10 minutes as they created an overlap to score out wide, kicking the conversion for a 7-0 lead.

Five minutes later they were on the scoreboard again with a second, this time unconverted, try stretching their advantage to 12-0.

But Tree fought their way back into the game and on 25 minutes flanker Will Humphreys made a break through midfield.

The ball was taken on by number eight John Smillie, whose efforts won a scrum that yielded a try and conversion for winger Elliott Swallow. 7-12.

The home side drew level on 35 minutes when good inter-passing led to an offload by Smille that put flanker Cameron Kerr in for try number two. 12-12.

With honours even at half-time Tree knew they would face a backlash from the east Londoners and so it proved.

Just two minutes into the second half Upminster broke away and were awarded a penalty just short of the their opponents’ line.

The visitors took a quick tap and went over to score, establishing a slender 17-12 lead.

Tree kept on plugging away to get the next score but were penalised for an infringement just inside their own half and conceded a penalty. 12-20.

Try as they might the black and ambers couldn’t regain a foothold, a 79th minute bonus point winning penalty from Swallow all they had to show for their endeavours.

BRUFC Head Coach Jamie Clarke said: “It was a tough physical match which I think we could and probably should have won.
“We played well in patches but allowed some questionable refereeing decisions to effect us and our game management needs to improve.
“We turned down three kickable penalties in the second half, which makes losing by five points all the more frustrating.
“We need to keep the scoreboard ticking over at all times, but I couldn’t fault our players’ commitment or effort against a very decent side.”
Tree will now look to claw back some of the ground on three sides above them when they travel to Ilford Wanderers on Saturday.
BRUFC: Whyatt, Worster, Levy, J Young, Swallow, Dann, Page, T Colebrook, Hardin, C Fairchild, T Carslake, Mlambo, C Kerr, Humphreys, Smillie. Reps: Clark, M Benfield, Doughty.