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

ROCHFORD HUNDRED...58 BRAINTREE...0 (London North East Two/Essex Intermediate Cup Final – double header)
BELEAGUERED Braintree’s 15th straight league defeat of the season proved even more painful after Saturday’s game was granted “double header” status when Rochford agreed it should also act as last season’s postponed Essex Intermediate Cup Final.
Tree won the cup in 2012/13 and found themselves in a position to defend the trophy after a series of withdrawals and byes catapulted them back to the final last season.
But despite the best attempts of both clubs to arrange a fixture before the end of the last campaign nothing could be finalised – until Saturday’s impromptu showdown in south Essex.
The black and ambers were always going to face an uphill task against fifth-placed Rochford, and their cause wasn’t helped when several players arrived only shortly before kick-off due to work commitments, making any kind of pre-match preparation nigh on impossible.
It was evident Tree were in for a long afternoon straight from the kick-off, as the home side’s forwards quickly took control, dominating scrums, line-outs and the break down.
The visitors defended manfully but suffered a major blow when second row Dan Johnson was forced to leave the field of play with a shoulder injury after just 10 minutes, followed 10 minutes later by skipper Tom Carslake courtesy of a dead leg.
Rochford made hay while the proverbial sun shone, running four tries past their hapless opponents and converting all but one of them for a 26-0 interval lead.
Tree were forced to make more changes at half time as veteran prop Matt Moore was forced off with a shoulder injury to be replaced by club stalwart Paul Aldridge, but his presence did at least add some stability to the pack.
Things went from bad to worse on 45 minutes when Mikey Benfield was harshly sin-binned for being caught offside, and hooker James Jones was forced off with a neck injury soon after.
With their front row replacement already deployed Tree were forced to play with 13 men for a 10 minute spell before Benfield’s return, all of which helped Rochford to run in another six tries, only one of which they managed to convert.
BRUFC Joint Coach Brian Joslin said: “It was another testing afternoon for all involved and it’s hard to find many positives looking at things where we are now.
“But Tim Ashford and debutant Liam Evans both had good games in defence and our more senior players like Neil Fitzearle, Paul Aldridge, Matt Moore and Darren Page showed great commitment for the club as always.”
Tree host Essex rivals South Woodham Ferrers at Robbs Wood this Saturday, but with their injury list mounting and the forthcoming Six Nations sure to lure some senior players away from Beckers Green Road things aren’t going to get any easier for the black and ambers.