Braintree got off to the best possible start by scoring with a little over a minute on the clock. Euan Banner forced one of Chelmsford’s backs into a handling error in the Braintree half from and hacked the loose ball forwards. He reached the kick just in front of the pursuing defenders and another kick took it over the line where he touched down.

Chelmsford’s good tackling meant Braintree were unable escape their own half for an extended period, but Braintree’s control of the scrum and breakdown meant that their defence wasn’t really tested. Eventually Chelmsford elected to kick a penalty that was in front of the posts yet some distance away, and reduced the defecit to two points.

Once Braintree broke out of their own half it was their turn to apply some pressure to the Chelmsford line. Wave after wave of Braintree attack was repelled, a task made easier for Chelmsford by Braintree’s inability or unwillingness to move the ball into the spaces out wide.

Once again good work at the breakdown kept the attack alive and after what seemed like an eternity, Chelmsford had the put the put in at a scrum close to their own line. However, Braintree won it against the head and Tristan Smith collected the ball at the back of the scrum and passed to Euan Banner whose well timed run saw him cross the line. In doing so, Euan injured his foot which meant Michael Locke took on the kicking duties, successfully converting.

Chelmsford attacked again, this time with improved handling and their full back looked to have evaded the Braintree cover out wide. However Michael Locke stopped his run when the last line of defence. More Chelmsford pressure followed but some last ditch defence and quick thinking behind their own line by the home side stopped them from conceding a try.

Braintree were on the attack again in the early stages of the second half. Will Wright’s kick over the Chelmsford defence was chased by Noah Weitz, who hacked the ball on but its bounce meant the ball went to Chelmsford hands. Michael Locke caught the clearing kick and set off for the corner, however he was halted just short of the line.

It was not long before Braintree extended their lead. Another solid scrum in the Chelmsford half allowed stand in fly half Will Wright the space to advance, he was tackled but Tristan Smith was in support and took the offload from Will to score. Tristan Smith scored a fourth Braintree try from close in late on in the game.

Chelmsford seemed determined to cross the Braintree line in the remainder of the game but good defence prevented them adding to their solitary score. Olly Everitt’s refusal to give up the chase denied a Chelmsford try with a tackle which put the attacker into touch millimetres from the Braintree line after a Chelmsford break had got through several Braintree defenders.

Despite spending long periods in their own half, Braintree never looked less than solid against the visitors. Good forward play, especially dominating the scrums, ensured that Chelmsford were not able to mount many serious attacks and Braintree’s ball handling was good in the muddy conditions.