This was a close encounter of the forwards kind. Braintree had some key players restored to their pack since the cup defeat at the hands of Brentwood’s big pack earlier in the season, and were looking for revenge in this league game.

The slope is always a key feature of games at Brentwood and the home team started with the slope advantage in the first half.

Braintree did well in the scrums (winning two against the head in the first half), and also held their own in the loose, winning more than their share of turnovers. Early on however cracks appeared in Braintree’s defence with missed tackles causing problems twice down one wing. Brentwood also used the slope – kicking for position and winning lineout ball. But as things settled down it became clear that the sides were evenly matched – despite the wind and the hill.

All the Braintree forwards played well, but Charlie Marsden and Dan O’Connell on the flanks were outstanding, frequently destroying what looked like promising possession for the home side. Brentwood’s predictable pick up at No8 certainly gained little ground and was frequently turned over.

Braintree’s backs looked the more dangerous and only over–anxiousness, with players often not deep enough in attack, prevented some promising moves bearing fruit. Braintree best early chances were fluffed - centre Gregg Stalley intercepted in his own half but was hauled down a few metres out, and Braintree were penalised for stamping at the ensuing ruck. Braintree also contrived to lose a lineout on the five metre line.

After about twenty minutes, with the Braintree fly half caught in a ruck, Brentwood got quick ball and their fly half drew the centre and off-loaded to the Brentwood inside centre who beat the full back to score a beautiful try which was then converted. But that was all Brentwood could manage with the slope and the wind in the first half.

In the second half Braintree started to dominate. It did not take long for Charlie Marsden to win a ball at a ruck and beat several men using his monster hand-off, to off-load to inside centre Ben Ladyman about ten metres into Brentwood’s half. Ladyman beat the winger, and then the full back to score under the posts. Jamie Masters converted.

It was a fitting tribute to the effort of the Braintree forwards that the winning score came after pressure forced a Braintree lineout five metres out.

The ball was flicked to Marsden who drove within five metres, Second row Andy Innes took the ball a metre more with support from other pack members and then his second row partner Jack Dodd drove low to score. Masters again converted.

Minutes later Ben Ladyman nearly scored again, only an excellent try saving tackle by the Brentwood full back keeping him out.

Several features of Braintree’s game were excellent. The forwards gaining parity in the loose, and superiority in the scrums against a bigger heavier pack, Hooker Fraser Maquire’s ball carrying through the midfield, the destructive work of the back row and the amount of turnover ball Braintree won – particularly Charlie Marsden. The backs too only made three defensive mistakes all game. The score could have been more.