BRAINTREE RUGBY UNION FOOTBALL CLUB 2014/15 SEASON.
Any copy queries to BRUFC Publicity Officer John Troup on 07860-179347.

BRAINTREE...5 NORWICH...29 (London North East Two)

IGNORE the scoreline of this match, which saw Tree suffer their eighth successive defeat since the start of the London North East Two season.
If ever there was an example of a performance being more important than a result, then this was it.
Table-topping Norwich came to Robbs Wood with seven wins under their belt, but were made to fight every step of the way for their points by a rejuvenated and committed home side.
Suffice to say that instead of being met with jeers and cat calls as they left the field of play Tree were lifted by the sight of their loyal fans applauding them to the dressing room.
After a poignant minute’s silence to mark Remembrance Day the two sides set about each other with gusto.
The visitors took the lead on nine minutes from a kick to touch which saw them secure line-out ball and cross for their first try from a rolling maul courtesy of Dave Micklethwaite.
Jonny O’Brien kicked the resultant conversion to give the Norfolk side a 10-0 lead.
Tree’s followers could have been forgiven for thinking ‘Here we go again’, but the hosts knuckled down to produce a tenacious display that made Norwich fight for every scrap of possession.
They started to look like a side that deserved to be in London NE2, and mounted several attacks that were thwarted only when they made mistakes at crucial times.
A sustained period of pressure by the visitors on the stroke of half-time led to another try out wide by Gareth Leake, a missed conversion pegging their advantage to 12-0 at half-time.
Tree continued to battle for every ball and were unlucky when Norwich went further ahead 14 minutes into the second period.
A strong scrum by the visitors enabled them to squeeze over from close range, Laurence Austin dropping on the ball to score their third try, converted by O’Brien for a 19-0 lead.
Shortly afterwards Tree got the points their efforts deserved when a charge down from replacement Jack Lee enabled Mikey Benfield to collect the ball and charge over for a try (5-19).
But on 57 minutes a missed tackle enabled the visitors to break through the middle of the park and score a fourth try, the second of the game for Austin. Conversion missed (5-24).
And it was that man Austin who finally settled matters when he completed his hat-trick with an unconverted break away try late on which flattered the visitors (5-29).
BRUFC Joint Coach Brian Joslin said: “We had to make four changes in the backs and three in the scrum due to injuries and work commitments but that was such an improved performance.
“We actually looked like a side who deserved to be in the same division as Norwich and were it not for handling errors in the first half the scoreline would have been a lot closer.
“The performance gave everyone hope for the rest of the season, and Norwich certainly knew they’d been in a game. The lads gave their all and left it on the pitch.
“Craig Douglas made his debut at prop and was outstanding. We couldn’t have asked for more from the boys.”
Tree will be hoping for a repeat performance next weekend when they travel to Brentwood to face London NE2 newcomers Campion.
BRUFC: Gale, Hardin, Abbott, J Moore (Lee), Crane, Adams, Page, Douglas, Sewell (Halford), Perry, Fitzearle (Lanham), Carslake, C Stephens, Benfield, Spearman.